What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver in Agoura Hills

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Agoura Hills Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, just east of Agoura Hills along the 101, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured residents throughout the Conejo Valley.

Being hit by a drunk driver in Agoura Hills, whether on US-101, Kanan Road, Agoura Road, or a neighborhood street, is a frightening experience. In the aftermath, what you do in the next few hours and days will significantly affect your health, safety, and ability to recover full compensation. Follow these steps carefully.

Step One: Call 911 Immediately

Always call 911 after a crash involving a suspected drunk driver. Law enforcement will respond and conduct a DUI investigation. On US-101, the CHP has jurisdiction. On surface roads in Agoura Hills, the LASD Lost Hills Station responds. Either agency will administer field sobriety tests, request a breathalyzer or blood draw if the driver is suspected of impairment, and document their findings in an official report.

A DUI arrest and subsequent test results are some of the most powerful evidence available in your civil claim against the drunk driver. Do not let the driver talk you out of calling the police.

Step Two: Do Not Engage Extensively with the Drunk Driver

Interacting with an intoxicated driver can be unpredictable. Stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so and wait for law enforcement. Do not argue about what happened, accept any money from the driver, or agree to settle anything at the scene. Whatever happens at the scene is not the end of your legal claim.

Step Three: Get Medical Attention Right Away

Go to Los Robles Regional Medical Center at 215 W Janss Rd in Thousand Oaks or another emergency facility as soon as possible, even if you feel okay. Injuries from vehicle crashes, particularly crashes at moderate to high speed on US-101 or Kanan Road, may not manifest immediately. Adrenaline suppresses pain, and conditions like whiplash, concussion, and internal injuries can worsen over hours. Medical records from the same day as the crash are the strongest documentation of your injuries.

Step Four: Document Everything

Photograph the crash scene, your vehicle's damage, the other vehicle, the road conditions, and any visible injuries. Write down or record your recollection of what happened while the details are fresh. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Note the time, location, and weather conditions. If you are on Agoura Road, near Whizin's Market Square, or in another commercial area, note any nearby businesses that might have surveillance cameras.

Step Five: Report the Crash to Your Insurance Company

Notify your own insurance company of the crash as required by your policy. However, do not provide a detailed statement or accept any settlement offer from any insurer without first consulting a lawyer. Even your own insurer may look for ways to limit your recovery if uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage becomes relevant.

Step Six: Contact a Lawyer Before the Next Step

Drunk driver cases involve criminal proceedings alongside civil claims. Evidence must be preserved from both tracks: the criminal case evidence such as blood alcohol test results and the accident report, and the civil case evidence such as surveillance footage, which may be deleted within days. The sooner your attorney is involved, the more evidence can be secured.

A drunk driver accident lawyer in Agoura Hills will monitor the criminal case for evidence useful in your civil claim, investigate all potential defendants including possible dram shop liability, and fight for full compensatory and potentially punitive damages. Cases are handled in LA County through the Chatsworth Courthouse.

Step Seven: Follow Through on All Medical Treatment

Follow your doctors' recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments. Gaps in medical treatment are used by insurance companies to argue that your injuries were not serious or were caused by something other than the crash. Consistent treatment documentation protects your claim.

Visit our Agoura Hills personal injury page to contact L&F Brown immediately after a drunk driver crash. We offer free consultations and handle all cases on contingency.