Protect your rights after a Missouri drunk driving accident and understand your legal options.

How to Protect Your Rights After Being Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

May 01, 20262 min read

How to Protect Your Rights After Being Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

Being injured by a drunk driver is a traumatic experience that can leave victims facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress. While no amount of compensation can undo the harm, taking the right steps after the crash can help protect your legal rights and strengthen your personal injury claim.

Drinking and driving don't mix well in a car accident

If you are physically able, seek immediate medical attention—even if your injuries seem minor. Some injuries, such as concussions or internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent. Prompt medical treatment also creates important documentation linking your injuries to the accident.

Next, report the accident to law enforcement and obtain a copy of the police report. If the other driver was arrested or cited for driving under the influence (DUI), that information may become valuable evidence in your injury claim.

Whenever possible, gather evidence at the scene, including photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, visible injuries, and any skid marks or debris. If there were witnesses, obtain their contact information, as their statements may help establish liability.

Avoid discussing the accident with the at-fault driver's insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters often attempt to minimize payouts by obtaining statements that can later be used against you.

Missouri law allows injured victims to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by a negligent or intoxicated driver. An experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, pursue your claim in court.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver in Missouri, contact Craig J. Concannon, P.C. for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

Disclaimer: This blog is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is unique. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements.


Craig Concannon, Esq.

Craig Concannon, Esq.

Craig J. Concannon is a licensed attorney in Missouri, Illinois, and Alabama. He completed his undergraduate studies in Accounting at St. Louis University, where he graduated with honors. Then in 1996, he graduated with honors from St. Louis University Law School, became an editor for the St. Louis University Public Law Review, and was a published author. After law school, Craig worked as a clerk at the Missouri Court of Appeals, where he gained more experience as a lawyer. He then started working in a private practice, where he gained experience by working on a variety of cases and representing a plethora of clients. One of those cases gained attention and became a front-page article in the June 7, 2002 issue of Missouri Lawyers Weekly. This was because he had managed to obtain favorable results for his client in a civil lawsuit against a major investment firm. In another case, Craig represented a client in a criminal case. It went on to become an article on the St. Louis Post Dispatch Newspaper since he was able to secure the defendant's release from a federal correctional institution solely because he detected that a testimony given by a St. Louis City Police Officer had been fabricated. In December 2009, Craig went on to represent a client in a commercial litigation matter and was up against many governmental entities. This case made its way to the St. Louis Business Journal, and he eventually featured in a St. Louis radio show, called KMOX, in January 2010. On September 12, 2010, yet another of Concannon's cases found its way to print, as an article on the front page of Missouri Lawyers Weekly. The article reported on a case in which he represented a client who had been convicted in an alleged multi-million dollar, multi-national ponzi scheme. As the years went by, Craig J. Concannon gained more experience as a successful lawyer. Many of his cases even resulted in five published decisions in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He's also represented several criminal defendants in over a hundred federal criminal cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. As an attorney with over 20 years of experience, Concannon's desire and passion to help his clients - especially those injured in accidents - has only increased. That's why he decided to start this law firm - in order to help people to the best of his ability.

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