If you’ve been injured in a DUI accident, you know that the very last thing you need is more stress. Your time is taken up by seemingly endless doctor’s appointments, auto repair shops, and dealing with the other driver’s insurance. But being the victim in a DUI accident is so much more than that. It means that you may have to testify against the person who hit you in court.
Not only was your life turned upside down in an instant when the driver hit you, but you now have to take MORE of your time to testify. You could waste your time. Or, you could hire a personal injury attorney to handle the majority of the work for you, so that all you need to do is focus on recovering.
You’ll still have to testify, which means that you will have some preparation to do, but you’ll only have to focus on preparing and getting through the testimony itself, and we can handle the rest. If you’re nervous about testifying, we will help you come up with the best way for you to go through the testifying process, with the least amount of effort on your end.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have significant experience in helping clients who have to testify against the drunk drivers who hit them. If you need help filing a claim for one of these awful, life changing accidents, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person or over the phone or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor or psychiatrist who can help get your life back on track. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
Why Do I Have To Testify?
When you are called to testify against the person who hit you while driving drunk, you are providing an eyewitness account from someone they injured. Testifying will help the jury decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent of driving under the influence.
At Thompson Law, we try to settle all of our cases out of court. The courtroom is reserved for those rare cases where the at-fault driver and their insurance company don’t agree to pay you for your injuries, damaged property, time, pain, and suffering that were a direct result of the accident. Most of our cases are settled out of court, and nationwide, 96% of personal injury cases settle without going to court. You will only have to testify if your case goes to court.
While it’s illegal for us to tell you what to say, we can offer some guidance as to how to prepare for your testimony in the rare occasion your case does go to court.
Criminal Court Case Checklist
We’ve prepared an easy-to-follow checklist to help you prepare for your upcoming testimony and appearance in criminal court. To find a PDF of this list, contact us.
___ Identify the investigating officer for the incident- this will be at the top of your incident report, and they will identify themselves at the scene of the accident.
___ Contact them to obtain a copy of the incident report.
___ Review the incident report for potential errors or inconsistencies. Notify the investigating officer of your findings, if there are any.
___ Obtain a copy of the defendant’s driving record.
___ Speak to the investigating officer to find out what charges are pending and why, as well as what proof is needed for those charges to result in a conviction.
___ Ask the investigating officer when the file will be transferred to the prosecutor’s office. Leave your contact information and request to be notified when this occurs.
___ Ask the investigating officer if there is a victim advocacy program affiliated either with their office or the office of the prosecuting attorney.
___ Make contact with the prosecutor and/or victim advocacy program and ask to be informed of any and all proceedings in accordance with your victims’ rights.
___ Complete and return any paperwork requested by the prosecutor’s office and/or victim advocacy program.
___ Keep a record of any notes related to your case.
___ Document any expenses you incur as related to your case. Save all receipts, bills, and records of expenses.
___ Request information about victim restitution from the prosecutor’s office.
___ Notify the jail or prison that you wish to be notified if the defendant is relocated or released.
___ Prepare your victim advocate statement. If we are your attorneys, we will help you prepare this.
___ Contact the parole board and let them know that you wish to be notified of any activity on the defendant in your case, including parole hearings, transfers, or release dates.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients who have to testify against the drunk drivers who hit them in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a DUI accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
