Drink-driving crash: who's at fault
The driver who hit you had been drinking and you want to know what that means for you.
A driver who was drink-driving at the time of the crash is treated as having caused it through serious negligence. The criminal drink-driving charge and your civil compensation claim are two separate things, and a conviction does not by itself put money in your hands. See who is at fault in a crash for how fault is generally decided.
The typical facts in this crash
A driver who has been drinking loses control, drifts across lanes, misjudges a junction, or reacts too slowly to avoid a collision. Witnesses may have noticed erratic driving before the impact.
How fault is usually assessed
A breath or blood alcohol reading taken by the police is strong evidence of negligence. The civil claim still needs to show the crash caused your specific injuries.
The evidence that decides a drink-driving dispute
- The police record of any breath or blood alcohol test and the arrest itself.
- Witness accounts of the driving beforehand, such as swerving or speeding.
- Dashcam footage capturing the erratic driving pattern.
- The police report’s account of what officers observed at the scene.
- Any charge sheet or court record from the resulting criminal case.
Lodge a police report within 24 hours, since it usually records the arrest and test results that support your claim.[3] The police report after an accident explains what to expect.
Who actually pays your compensation
Malaysian law requires the at-fault driver’s insurer to satisfy a third-party judgment for death or bodily injury, and this duty does not depend on how the driver came to be at fault.[1] A third-party bodily injury claim explains how this works in practice.
Contributory negligence in this scenario
If you were a passenger who chose to get into the car knowing the driver had been drinking, or you were not wearing a seatbelt, your own compensation can still be reduced for that.[2] Contributory negligence explained sets out how courts weigh this.
What to do at the scene and after
Cooperate with the police investigation and keep a copy of any charge or case reference, since it can support your civil claim later. A road accident claim covers the steps once liability is this clear.
If the driver’s insurer is slow or disputes your losses, this is the point where an independent lawyer can take the claim on for you.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Does a drink-driving conviction automatically win my compensation claim?
It helps a great deal as evidence of negligence, but it is a separate process from your civil claim. You still need to show your injuries and losses, usually through medical reports and the same claim process as any other case.
Who pays me if the drunk driver has no money?
In most cases, the at-fault driver's insurer pays a valid claim for death or bodily injury, since Malaysian law requires this regardless of the driver's personal finances.[1] [A third-party bodily injury claim](/third-party-bodily-injury-claim/) explains this route.
I was a passenger and knew the driver had been drinking, can I still claim?
Usually yes, though your own compensation may be reduced for knowingly taking that risk, depending on the facts.[2] It does not remove your claim entirely.
What if the driver drove off before police arrived?
If the vehicle is later identified through witnesses, CCTV, or police investigation, the situation returns to the usual claim process. [Can you claim after a hit-and-run](/hit-and-run-claim/) covers what happens if it cannot be traced at all.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.96 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Civil Law Act 1956, s.12 (Attorney General's Chambers) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.52 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.