According to government statistics, one out of three traffic deaths continues to involve a drunk driver. The Center for Disease Control reports on impaired driving that one person dies every 50 minutes due to a drunk driver behind the wheel. In addition, drunk driving results in over $44 billion in damages each year.
If a drunk driver has injured you or a loved one, you don’t have to pay out of pocket for any of your damages. Please give an Atlanta drunk driving accident victim lawyer a call at (404) 400-4000. John Foy & Associates can help you get started on your claim.
What Should I Do After an Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident?
In any accident, it’s essential to call the police and get a formal accident report. But this is especially crucial if you suspect a driver was drunk or otherwise impaired. Tell the officer that you suspect the other driver was drinking or impaired. Police have the knowledge to identify those situations. If it turns out to be a DUI situation, you have a right to recover significantly from the irresponsible person.
You should take down as much information as you can about the accident if possible. Try and see if the driver is trying to get rid of bottles or cans. If the driver starts to use eye drops, they could be trying to cover up bloodshot eyes from marijuana or alcohol use.
A hit by drunk driver lawyer in Atlanta will investigate to see if the driver has previous convictions. The CDC reports drivers arrested while under the influence are six times more likely to have a prior DUI conviction than drivers with no alcohol in their system.
What Counts as Drunk Driving in Atlanta?
The legal limit is .08% blood alcohol content (BAC) in Atlanta. BAC varies based on weight, gender, the strength of the drink, and the time of day you’ve been drinking. All drivers should know their BAC limit. There are simple online BAC calculators available.
Anyone under the legal drinking age of 21 is not allowed to have any alcohol before driving. Georgia has a zero-tolerance for any driver younger than 21 having any alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
If someone is above the legal limit established, they’re driving drunk. Drunk driving is illegal, and the law is almost always on your side after an accident. Even still, you should do things after your accident to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Does Being High Count as Drunk Driving?
Yes, being high on any drug is considered the same as drunk driving. Under Georgia law, the terminology is driving while under the influence or driving while intoxicated, which applies equally to any drug or alcohol. Any drug that makes you a less safe driver would qualify as a drunk driving case.
Can I Sue the Other Driver if They Were on Prescription Medications?
Being impaired by a legal drug violates the driving laws. Prescription drugs are required by law to have warning labels about any possible impairment, and drivers have a responsibility to honor other drivers. If you don’t smell alcohol or marijuana, but you suspect there’s something wrong with the other driver, report your concerns to the officer.
Atlanta Drunk Driving Victim Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
Who Can I Hold Liable for My Drunk Driving Accident in Atlanta?
The drunk driver is almost always responsible for the repayment of your damages. However, there are situations in which you can hold another party responsible for your drunk driving accident. For example, the Georgia “Dram Shop Law” holds accountable any business owner who knowingly sells alcohol to an intoxicated customer or guest.
Bartenders must refuse to serve someone who has had too much to drink. Restaurant servers have a duty to monitor the number of drinks a customer has, and that’s easy to do because the server keeps a tab of how much the customer has ordered.
A party host may also be responsible, especially if they knowingly provided alcohol to anyone under 21. If you knowingly served a minor, you can potentially be liable.
How Can Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Victim Lawyers Help Me?
You can trust our Atlanta drunk driving victim accident lawyers to help you win your personal injury claim. We provide assistance in several ways, including:
- Handling communications with insurance companies and other third parties
- Always representing your best interests during negotiations or at trial
- Helping you gather evidence, get medical treatment, and build a strong case for your claim
- Contact witnesses and collect their statements in support of your claim
- Calculating your damages accurately to ensure nothing gets left out
Hiring a hit by drunk driver lawyer from John Foy & Associates is virtually risk-free. We never ask for any payment upfront, and our initial consultation is always free. We don’t share any of your personal information and always ensure privacy and confidentiality.
As a bonus, our drunk driving accident lawyers don’t accept any payment unless we win your case. If we can’t win a settlement on your behalf, you owe us nothing for our services.
An Atlanta DUI Victim Attorney Can File Your Claim on Time
The time limit for filing a personal injury case is generally two years, but there are exceptions for shorter periods. It’s important to act quickly and hire a drunk driving victim accident attorney before too much time passes.
If you wait too long, you run the risk of losing critical evidence and weakening your chances of winning a settlement. A drunk driving accident victim lawyer in Atlanta will ensure that your claim is filed on time.
What if My Loved One Was Hurt or Killed in a DUI Crash in Atlanta?
Our team has seen the gamut of drunk driving cases over the years. For example, if your child knowingly got into a car with a drunk teen driver, the provider of the alcohol can get held accountable.
In short, if your family member was hurt in a drunk driving accident, regardless of how it happened, talk to an Atlanta drunk driving accident victim lawyer to learn more about what your legal options are.
A woman driving a car while holding a wine glass is pulled over. If you were injured by a drunk driver, get in touch with an Atlanta DUI accident victim attorney today.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving victim accidents lawyer serving Atlanta, call 404-400-4000
How Much Compensation Do I Get in an Atlanta Drunk Driving Car Wreck?
There are three main types of damages you can recover compensation for as a drunk driving victim. They are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Part of the job of a drunk driving victim attorney is to help you understand the amount of compensation you are truly owed. Then they handle negotiations with the at-fault party and their counsel in order to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the damages you sustain that have a fixed value. Typically, you will have receipts or invoices to keep track of how much they are. Economic damages consist of:
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Various property damages
- Medical expenses, treatment, physical therapy, prescriptions, equipment, etc.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capability
You must keep all the bills and other financial documents related to your economic damages safe and organized. Then, you can use them as proof of your damages, and it will help our lawyers accurately calculate your settlement total.
Non-Economic Damages
Your non-economic damages will typically include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
- Disfigurement or disability
The difference between economic and non-economic damages is that non-economic damages have no fixed value. How much you can recover in compensation for them depends on how severe these damages are and how much they’ve impacted your life.
We know that money isn’t enough to replace everything you’ve lost. However, we hope that you get closure, justice, and the means to move forward with your life after your accident by bringing you the maximum amount of compensation.
Punitive Damages
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-12-5.1 allows accident victims to recover a reward for punitive damages if:
- The at-fault party was egregiously negligent in their actions.
- The at-fault party intentionally tried to hurt you.
- The at-fault party was committing a crime when your accident occurred.
Drunk driving victims can often recover punitive damages because driving under the influence of any substance is often egregiously negligent behavior. While we can’t guarantee that every case will qualify, we will ensure you receive a reward if yours does.
A drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta will work with you to catalog all the various types of damages that are applicable in your case. This way, we can maximize your compensation package and get you the money you need to successfully recover from your injuries and live a fulfilling life.
Talk to an Atlanta Drunk Driving Victim Accident Lawyer for Free
Driving is a privilege and requires responsible behavior. John Foy & Associates has 20 years of representing people who have been injured by drunk drivers. You can trust our results for our clients.
Call our drunk driving victim accident lawyers in Atlanta at (404) 400-4000 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to help you schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
