Last Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer
If a drunk or impaired driver hit you, there may be a criminal case and a separate civil claim. A conviction can be useful evidence. It does not set your medical bills, your time off work, or whether insurance will pay.
NHTSA’s drunk-driving page is about the public-safety problem. Your problem is more specific: a crash, a hospital, and an insurer that may still argue about injuries. Alcohol is not the only impairment. Drugs, including some prescriptions, can be in the same conversation.
Two cases, two calendars
The criminal court can take months. Your medical bills do not wait. You can usually move a civil claim forward without sitting on the verdict, but talking about the crash in both places takes care. Get advice before you give a recorded civil statement that the defense can reuse.
Insurance is still insurance
Liability coverage on the impaired driver’s policy is the usual first pocket. UM/UIM can matter when those limits are low. A criminal restitution order is not the same as a civil settlement.
How a claim often moves
- 1
Get checked, even if you feel more shaken than hurt.
- 2
Tell your own insurer what the policy requires. Be careful with a recorded statement to the other company.
- 3
Keep bills, mileage, and notes about missed work.
- 4
Talk with an attorney before you guess about fault or sign a broad release.
How Brock & Stout can help
We can track the criminal case without letting it stall your medical file, and we deal with the insurers. Call or request a free consultation. We cannot promise a particular result.
Frequently asked questions
Personal injury claims are subject to filing deadlines, and the deadline that applies can depend on the facts of the case. Different notice requirements may apply depending on who is involved. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Speak with an attorney promptly.
Related resources
- Car Accident Injury Claims — Car Accident Injury Claims
If another driver’s negligence caused a crash, you may have a claim against that driver and available insurance. Your own policy can also matter, including uninsured motorist coverage. This page does not calculate a filing deadline or a settlement value.
- Head-On Collisions — Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision is two vehicles hitting front to front, usually while traveling in opposite directions. Crossing the center line, a bad pass, fatigue, and impairment are common explanations. The forces are high. So are the medical bills.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists — Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance, or in a hit-and-run that the policy covers. Underinsured coverage may apply when that driver’s limits are too low for the injuries. You generally have to have bought the coverage. Notice requirements in the policy can be strict.
- Wrongful Death Claims — Wrongful Death Claims
A wrongful death claim is a lawsuit authorized by statute when a death is alleged to have been caused by someone else’s wrongful act. Who may file, and what damages the law allows, depends on the state. Grief is not the same as legal standing.
Injured and not sure what to do next?
Call now or request a free case evaluation. We can review what happened and explain options. We cannot promise a particular result.
This page is general educational information about personal injury claims as of the date shown. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee a result. Facts, insurance coverage, and state law vary. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Personal Injury Knowledge Center
