Victim Services

MADD offers support, guidance, and information for people in crashes involving impaired drivers and for people whose loved ones were injured or killed by impaired drivers.

In spite of MADD’s name, it provides services for all persons victimized by the crime of drunk driving, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, or relationship with the victim. A MADD victim advocate can provide:

• Emotional support and provide information by phone or in person.
• Assistance in obtaining and filling out an application for crime victim compensation.
• List of professional counselors skilled in working with crash victims.
• Information regarding a victim support group where you can meet other families who share your experience.
• Free publications for victims of crashes.

Your MADD victim advocate can tell you how to obtain the crash report and, in applicable states, the offender's driving record. Your advocate can inform you about drunk driving laws and victim rights in your state. MADD can refer you to a list of civil attorneys skilled in handling wrongful death and personal injury civil cases. It is not necessary to file a civil suit if you seek restitution as a component of the criminal sentence. However, it may be prudent to discuss additional civil remedies with a civil attorney.

Your advocate can assist you in preparing a Victim Impact Statement to present at the sentencing of the offender.

• An advocate can accompany you to court to offer support and to inform you about legal procedures.
• An advocate can represent your family with statements to the media, if you prefer.
• An advocate can inform you of your rights to assist with the development of conditions of probation if the offender does not go to prison. Your advocate can also assist you in preparing statements for parole hearings.