Last Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer
A crash involving an impaired driver can lead to a criminal prosecution and a separate civil injury claim. Evidence from the criminal investigation or a conviction may be relevant to the civil case, but it does not by itself determine damages, insurance coverage, or the outcome of the injury claim.
Alcohol and drugs, including some prescription medications, can impair driving. If impairment is suspected, the civil claim may involve crash evidence, criminal-investigation records, medical documentation, and insurance coverage in addition to the ordinary elements of negligence.
Criminal and Civil Cases Can Proceed Separately
A civil injury claim does not necessarily have to wait for a criminal prosecution to end. Evidence developed in the criminal case may become relevant to the civil claim, and statements about the crash can affect both proceedings.
Insurance Coverage Still Matters
The impaired driver’s liability insurance may provide coverage for the injury claim. UM/UIM coverage may also become important when the at-fault driver is uninsured or does not have enough applicable coverage. Criminal restitution and a civil settlement are separate forms of recovery and should not be treated as interchangeable.
How a claim often moves
- 1
SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE — Get appropriate medical attention for injuries or symptoms after the crash.
- 2
PRESERVE BASIC INFORMATION — Keep the crash report information, photographs, witness details, insurance information, and other records you already have.
- 3
DOCUMENT THE EFFECT OF THE INJURY — Keep medical records, bills, work-loss information, and other documentation showing how the injury has affected you.
- 4
UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS BEFORE SIGNING A RELEASE — Before signing a broad release or resolving the claim, make sure you understand the available insurance, the injuries being claimed, and the effect of the agreement.
How Brock & Stout can help
We can investigate the crash, monitor relevant developments in the criminal case, gather medical and insurance records, and pursue the available civil claim without unnecessarily delaying the injury case. Call or request a free consultation.
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 occurs when the fronts of two vehicles collide, often while traveling in opposite directions. An investigation may focus on center-line crossings, unsafe passing, wrong-way driving, fatigue, impairment, roadway conditions, and available vehicle or scene data.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists — Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
UM/UIM coverage may apply when an at-fault driver has no insurance, insufficient insurance, or in certain hit-and-run situations. Whether coverage is available depends on the policy, any valid rejection or coverage selection, and applicable state law. Prompt notice to the insurer may also be important.
- Wrongful Death Claims — Wrongful Death Claims
A wrongful-death claim is a statutory civil action arising from a death allegedly caused by another party’s wrongful conduct. Who may bring the claim and what damages may be recovered differ significantly between Alabama and Georgia.
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.
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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
