The Drunk-Drugged Driving Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you are the victim of drunk driving, you are never alone. Countless men, women, and children have dealt with the devastating effects of drunk driving, going on to survive and thrive. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced similar challenges.

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best resources for victims of drunk drivers: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you'll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this drunk driving guide even more helpful to survivors like you.

JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Drunk/Drugged Driving

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Impaired Driving
• National Institutes of Health: National Institute on Drug Abuse - Drugged Driving
  

The Big Picture

Drunk driving is also known as impaired driving, or driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). This guide also includes information related to drugged driving, or using drugs other than alcohol while driving a car or other vehicle. Laws about what constitutes drunk or drugged driving vary from state to state: 

FindLaw.com: Comparing State DUI Laws

The number of drunk drivers caught are only a small fraction of impaired drivers on the road; learn to recognize signs of drunk/drugged drivers:

Roadragers.com How to Recognize and Deal with Drunk Drivers

Your Experience as a Victim of Drunk/Drugged Driving

MADD: Victim Services

U.S. Department of Justice: Office for Victims of Crime

Your World

If you've survived a drunk/drugged driving accident, you are likely dealing with many emotions and perhaps physical complications as well. This is a very emotional time, and it's important that you find support now:

MADD: After the Crash

MADD: Victims Support and Healing (Forums)

StateNews.com - Drunken Driving Victims Share Experiences

Drunk/Drugged Driving Myths

• "Alcohol only slightly impairs judgment behind the wheel."
• "Coffee will help sober me up to drive."
• "Sucking on pennies or another copper metal will help lower breath alcohol concentration (BAC)."

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

Survivors say these are the best guides; check them out to learn more about dealing with being the victim of drunk or drugged driving:

• PBS.org: Just One Night: Fighting Impaired Driving
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): Victim Services

Taking Action

You may decide to pursue prosecution against the drunk/drugged driver:

MADD: Legal Process

You may want to do what you can to reduce the risk of anyone else experiencing the trauma you have - these sources can give you information on how to help, and about specific groups that may be at risk for impaired driving:

MADD: Take Action - State-by-state Advocacy Center Map

Department of Transportation: Polypharmacy and Older Drivers

MADD: Underage Drinking

Department of Transportation: Drowsy and Distracted Driving

Experts Who Can Help

If you've been injured in an accident caused by drunk or drugged driving, you may work with a variety of medical specialists to help you recover, depending on the injuries you experienced. Physical therapists can help rehabilitate the body, for instance.

A psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor can help you deal with emotions and trauma:

Mayoclinic.com: Psychotherapy

Mental Health America: Find Help 

MADD: Victim Services - Bereaved

Dealing with Drunk/Drugged Driving: Information for Co-Survivors

How You Can Help

• After an accident a drunk/drugged driving survivor may be dealing with emotional, physical, and mental challenges. Simply listen and offer your help whenever they need it - this will help them begin the healing process.

What to Say

• “I'll help you recover from this experience in any way I can.”
• “It's natural to feel the way that you do; if you'd like, I can help you find a counselor to talk to.”

What Not to Say

• “You shouldn't have been driving so late at night.”
• “You're lucky to be alive.”

Things You Can Do to Help a Survivor Every Day

• Help meet their physical needs after an accident.
• Encourage the survivor share their experience with others.

How to Build a Support Network

• Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates on how your loved one is doing.

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

• Work/School – Survivors may need help explaining new physical, emotional, or mental limitations that have resulted from the accident or other trauma. Common sense and sensitivity ill guide you to how to best help the survivor in school or at work. Survivors don't need to be pitied, but their experience does need to be respected.
• Family – At home, co-survivors can help the drunk/drugged driving survivor work through their many emotions; be as patient and supportive as you can.

Recovery

Recovery from the trauma of experiencing an accident caused by an impaired driver can take a very long time. You may be dealing with physical injuries in addition to the emotional fall-out of this experience. Continue to tap all the resources you need to heal. Some survivors of accidents like these find healing in becoming active in the fight to stop drunk/drugged driving:

MADD: Finding Support

MADD: Financial Recovery

MADD: Honoring Victims and Survivors

StopImpairedDriving.org

StopDruggedDriving.org

CharityGuide.org: Prevent Teenage Drunk Driving Accidents

Give Back

• Set up a personal profile on TSC and share your experience as a survivor of a drunk/drugged driving accident and what helped you through this very difficult time. Others may be inspired by your story!
• Become a survivor mentor for others suffering with the experience of a drunk/drugged driving accident or other trauma.

Unfortunately, all too many victims of drunk or drugged drivers end up injured - often with devastating injuries and impairment - and there is often loss of life as a result of these very preventable accidents.

• MADD: Injured

Resources for Co-Survivors

If you have lost someone you love at the hands of an impaired driver the grief you feel is incalculable. These resources may provide some help to get you through this extremely difficult time:

• MADD: Bereaved
• Griefnet.org