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 Drunk driving crashes can leave families emotionally, mentally and financially devastated. MADD Victim Services is here to help – we help survivors survive.
After the crash, there's the impact.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a drunk driving crash, MADD offers services and resources to help victims/survivors and their families cope with the complex emotional, legal, medical and financial ramifications.
Our services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Here’s an overview of how MADD can help you.
Contact MADD
Victim/Survivor Helpline
MADD's Victim/Survivor Helpline at 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435) provides assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can answer your questions, refer you to a MADD Victim Advocate in your area or simply listen.
MADD Victim/Survivor Services
MADD Victim Advocates
MADD has more than 1,400 trained victim advocates across the country that serve those who have been tragically touched by drunk driving. They are the hand to hold, the shoulder to cry on, the ear that listens and the fountain of information.
MADD Victim Advocates:
- Listen to you and allow you to tell your story as many times as you need to.
- Inform you about criminal justice procedures in your community and accompany you to court.
- Provide a list of professional counselors, civil attorneys and clergy in your community who are skilled at working with crash victims.
- Tell you how to obtain the crash report and, in some states, the offender's driving record.
- Inform you about drunk driving laws and victim rights in your state.
- Monitor the court case against the defendant.
- Help you prepare a victim impact statement to present at the sentencing of the offender.
- Represent your family with statements to the media.
- Help you prepare statements for parole hearings.
- Help you apply for financial assistance through the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.
Call MADD's Victim/Survivor Helpline at 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435)
Help With the Justice System
The criminal and civil justice systems can be confusing, frustrating and intimidating. MADD Victim Advocates understand and they can assist you by providing information about drunk driving laws, how the system works, what to expect and the victim rights in your state. Your victim advocate can also accompany you to court. Click here to learn more about legal process.
Help with Financial Issues
Families are often financially devastated after a drunk driving crash. Your MADD Victim Advocate can help you apply for financial assistance through the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. MADD’s brochure Financial Recovery After A Drunk Driving Crash can also help you or a loved one find financial assistance through benefits, insurance, litigation, offender restitution, and government programs. Click here to learn more about financial recovery.
Resources
Publications
MADD has a wide selection of brochures for crash victims/survivors—many available in English and Spanish. Topics include grief and healing, talking to children and teens about death, coping with serious injury, the criminal and civil court system and many more.
MADD also publishes MADDvocate—a magazine for drunk driving victims/survivors and those who advocate for them. Each issue of MADDvocate addresses topics specific to the issues drunk driving victims/survivors face, news you can use, and tips and resources you might find helpful. Click here to be taken to back issues of MADDvocate.
Online Information
MADD offers a wealth of online information for drunk driving victims/survivors. Simply click the links to be taken to the information you need now bereaved, injured, youth victim/survivors, financial recovery and legal process.
Online Discussion Forum
MADD hosts live Victim Support Forums every Monday night at 7 p.m. CT and every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. CT. These online gatherings let victims and family members share their insights, feelings and experiences in a safe, understanding environment.
Local Support Groups
Some of MADD’s local offices offer victim support groups where you can meet other families who share your experience. Click here to find your local MADD office.
Online Victims Tribute
MADD is committed to giving a voice to victims and loved ones who have been affected by the violent crime of drunk driving. Our Online Victims Tribute lets victims/survivors share how impaired driving has changed their lives. It’s a powerful way to acknowledge the extent of their loss and bring that reality to a society numbed by statistics.
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