It’s no secret that drinking and driving is a dangerous mix. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28 percent of all traffic fatalities. That’s one person killed every 51 minutes in the United States due to an alcohol-related crash. And those statistics only include fatal accidents. Drunk drivers cause millions of dollars in property damage each year and injure countless people.

However, despite the well-known dangers of drunk driving, people continue to get behind the wheel after drinking. In case you are the one who made the bad call to drink and drive, and you’re involved in an accident, you must call a lawyer as soon as possible. Here are four essential reasons why:

You May Be Facing Criminal Charges

The first and most obvious reason to call a lawyer after an alcohol-related accident is that you may be facing criminal charges. Depending on the severity of the accident, and the state in which it occurred, you could be looking at anything from a misdemeanor DUI to a felony vehicular homicide charge. And if anyone was killed or seriously injured in the accident, you could be facing even more serious charges.

Even if you are only facing a misdemeanor DUI charge, it is still in your best interest to have a lawyer on your side. If you live in Shelby, North Carolina, and are charged with a misdemeanor DUI, for example, you could be facing up to 150 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, with a good Shelby drunk driving attorney, you may be able to get those charges reduced or even dismissed. An experienced drunk driving attorney will know the ins and outs of the criminal justice system in your state and will be able to work to get you the best possible outcome.

You May Be Facing Civil Charges

In addition to any criminal charges you may be facing, you could also be sued civilly by the victims of the accident or their families. If someone was killed or seriously injured in the accident, they or their family may file a wrongful death lawsuit against you. If they were not killed but were still injured, they may file a personal injury lawsuit.

Even if you are not facing any criminal charges, a civil lawsuit can still be a very serious matter. If you are found liable in a civil suit, you could be ordered to pay the victim or their family damages. These damages can include things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded. Punitive damages are meant to punish the offender and deter others from engaging in similar behavior and can often amount to much more than compensatory damages. With so much at stake, you must have a lawyer on your side if you are facing a civil suit. In this case, hiring a good personal injury attorney is your best bet. A personal injury attorney will be able to help you defend against the charges and, if necessary, negotiate a settlement.

The Insurance Company Will Have Their Own Lawyers

If you’re involved in an accident and it is determined that you were at fault, your insurance company will likely be on the hook for any damages that are awarded. As such, they will have their team of lawyers working to minimize the amount of money they have to payout. You can be sure that the insurance company’s lawyers will be looking out for the best interests of the insurance company, not you. They may try to get you to give a recorded statement or sign away your rights without fully understanding what you are doing. They may also try to lowball you on any settlement offer they make. Luckily, you don’t have to go up against the insurance company’s lawyers alone. You can level the playing field by hiring your lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney will know how to deal with the insurance company and their lawyers and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

You Need to Protect Your Rights

Perhaps the most important reason to call a lawyer after an alcohol-related accident is to protect your rights. If you try to handle the situation on your own, you could inadvertently say or do something that will hurt your case. For example, if you are facing criminal charges, anything you say to the police can and will be used against you in court. If you try to give a recorded statement to the insurance company, you could end up saying something that hurts your chances of getting a fair settlement. And if you try to negotiate with the victim or their family without a lawyer, you could end up agreeing to pay more than you owe. An experienced lawyer will know how to protect your rights and will guide you through the process so that you don’t inadvertently damage your case.

Even though you might be tempted to try to handle the situation on your own, it is always best to call a lawyer after suffering an alcohol-related road crash. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal process and will fight to get you the best possible outcome. So if you find yourself in this situation, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call a lawyer right away. It can make all the difference in the world.