You’re driving home from the late shift at work when you spot a car driving erratically. It keeps speeding up, slowing down and swerving from one side of the lane to the other.
You quickly determine that the driver is likely drunk. What should you do now? You know that drunk driving is incredibly dangerous, and you worry that someone could get injured or killed.
First off, do not try to stop the car. You could put yourself in serious danger. Remember that the driver is not thinking clearly. You could just escalate the situation and get hurt yourself.
What you need to do is keep your distance, stay safe and call the police. Tell them what you have seen and give them the driver’s location. Let a police officer come and make the stop and the arrest.
If you have a dash camera, recording the scene can help the police with their investigation, providing evidence. Do not try to record on your cellphone while you drive, but you can have a passenger take a video.
If you can, in a safe manner, you can also write down identifying information or take pictures. Consider things like the make and model of the car, the vehicle”s color and the license plate number. Do not put yourself at risk for this information, but just get it if you can, in case the driver leaves before police arrive.
Above all else, try to avoid an accident and get the authorities on the scene promptly. If you do get in an accident with a drunk driver and you suffer injuries, make sure you know what legal options you have to seek compensation.