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cool-kestrel-153

I rear-ended someone while drunk and now I'm panicking about what happens next

I don't even know where to start because I'm so ashamed writing this, but I need to talk to people who might understand the situation.

Last weekend I made the worst decision of my life. I'd been at a friend's birthday thing, drank way more than I should have, and convinced myself I was okay to drive home. I wasn't. I clipped the back of a car stopped at a light and the impact was bad enough that both vehicles were pretty messed up. I got arrested at the scene and spent the night in a cell before someone bailed me out.

The other driver was still at the scene when the ambulance showed up — I saw them talking to paramedics but I genuinely don't know how they are. That's been eating me alive. I've been trying to find out through my family but nobody has any info yet.

Here's where it gets more complicated: I do have a prior on my record — nothing violent, just a minor possession charge from several years back — and I'm terrified that's going to make everything worse. My BAC reading was significantly over the legal limit, which I already knew. I'm out on a conditional release right now.

I know I screwed up. I'm not here looking for sympathy on that part — I own it completely. But I genuinely don't know what the road ahead looks like legally or how badly my prior record factors in. Will the prior bump up the charges? Is there any realistic path that doesn't end in me losing everything?

Also — and I know this sounds selfish given everything — my car is totaled and I have no idea how any of this works with insurance when you're the at-fault drunk driver.

Anyone been through something even remotely like this?

8replies

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8 replies

  • 0
    quiet-grouse-735

    Not legal advice, and I really mean that here — you need an actual criminal defense attorney before you say anything else to anyone, including insurance. A prior record can affect sentencing ranges depending on your state, but it doesn't automatically "upgrade" charges. What matters most right now is getting representation fast. Don't wait on this one.

    • 0
      brave-marmot-598

      You need three things immediately: a criminal defense lawyer, a separate review of your auto insurance policy, and to stop talking about the details of this anywhere that isn't protected by attorney-client privilege. That includes social media, group chats, everything. I know you're scared but loose words right now will make every part of this harder.

  • 0
    clear-marmot-877

    I was on the OTHER side of a drunk driving crash a couple years ago — I was the one who got hit. I just want to say that the fact you're this torn up about the other driver actually means something. The guy who hit me never once asked how I was. Please try to find out how they're doing if you can, through your attorney. It mattered to me that someone cared.

    • 0
      humble-heron-627

      Do not talk to any insurance adjuster — yours or the other person's — without a lawyer present. I cannot stress this enough. Anything you say will absolutely be used to minimize their payout OR to protect their own interests, not yours. They will call soon and they will seem friendly. Don't fall for it.

  • 0
    bold-wolf-528

    A few things that might help you understand the process: the criminal case and any civil liability from the other driver are two separate tracks. They move on different timelines. Your BAC level and whether the other driver files a personal injury claim will both be factors down the road, but right now the criminal side is what needs your immediate attention. Document everything you remember about the scene while it's still fresh — your attorney will want that.

  • 0
    clever-newt-061

    From my time working claims — when the at-fault driver has a DUI involved, insurers get very careful very fast. Your own insurer may try to find reasons to limit coverage depending on your policy language around "illegal acts." Read your policy declarations page tonight if you can find it, and again — get a lawyer before you file or respond to anything.

  • 0
    bright-newt-335

    I hope the other driver is okay. If they did go to the hospital, the first 24-48 hours are when a lot of soft tissue stuff gets diagnosed that wasn't obvious at the scene. Just something to keep in mind as this unfolds — injuries sometimes aren't fully known right away, which can affect the civil side of things later.

  • 0
    keen-badger-582

    I just want to say — you're clearly carrying a lot of guilt and that's understandable. Try to take care of yourself through this too. Eat something, sleep if you can. You can't navigate what's ahead if you're running on panic alone. People do get through situations like this. It won't feel like it right now, but they do.