Drunk Driving and Pedestrian Accidents
When alcohol and driving mix, pedestrians often pay the highest price. Unlike other road users, pedestrians have no protection against impact — and drunk drivers, with delayed reactions and impaired judgment, pose an extreme risk to anyone on foot.
Every year, dozens of pedestrians in Alberta are seriously injured or killed by impaired drivers. Despite stricter laws and awareness campaigns, alcohol- and drug-related crashes remain among the province's most devastating collisions.
As Alberta injury lawyers who used to defend insurers, we know how these cases are handled — and how families can fight back. This guide explains how alcohol affects driver liability, how fault is proven, and what compensation pedestrians can claim after a drunk-driving accident.
This guide explains:
Why Drunk Driving Is So Dangerous for Pedestrians
Alcohol and drugs impair every ability needed to drive safely. Even small amounts can cause:
Common Scenarios in Drunk Driving Pedestrian Accidents
Drunk driving pedestrian collisions often occur in predictable but tragic circumstances, including:
Crosswalks or intersections
Drivers failing to yield or running red lights.
Residential or downtown areas
High foot traffic and poor visibility at night.
Roadside breakdowns
Pedestrians assisting a vehicle struck by an impaired driver.
Shoulders or parking lots
Drivers drifting off road or reversing without awareness.
Hit-and-run cases
Drunk drivers fleeing the scene to avoid arrest.
Each of these situations creates clear grounds for a negligence claim — and, in many cases, **punitive or aggravated damages** for reckless conduct.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Drunk Driving Pedestrian Accident
Your actions immediately after a drunk driving pedestrian accident can protect your health and strengthen your claim.
Call 911
Ensure police respond immediately — impaired cases require immediate investigation.
Get Medical Care Immediately
Seek medical treatment right away, even for minor symptoms.
Request a Police Report Number
Note the investigating officer's name and get the report number.
Take Photos
Document the scene, vehicle, and your injuries.
Collect Witness Contact Information
Get names and contact details from any witnesses.
Do Not Speak to the Driver's Insurer
Avoid giving statements until you have legal representation.
Contact an Alberta Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Quickly
A lawyer will preserve evidence like blood alcohol tests and dash-cam footage.
How a Lawyer Proves Drunk Driving and Negligence
An experienced lawyer gathers and preserves evidence to prove the driver's impairment and the victim's damages.
Obtain Police and Toxicology Reports
Confirming BAC levels and impairment evidence.
Subpoena Dash-Cam or Surveillance Footage
Showing erratic driving behavior before the collision.
Retrieve Black Box (EDR) Data
From the vehicle to show speed and braking patterns.
Work with Accident Reconstruction Experts
To prove the collision was preventable.
Collect Medical and Psychological Records
To show the full impact of injuries.
Pursue Aggravated or Punitive Damages
Where appropriate for reckless conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Drunk driving is one of the most preventable causes of pedestrian injuries — and one of the most unforgivable. Alberta law holds impaired drivers fully accountable, and victims have every right to pursue significant compensation for their losses.
Seek medical help immediately
Request the police report
Avoid insurer contact
Call an experienced lawyer as soon as possible
Still have questions? Contact us today — your consultation is free.
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