Residents of Austell are affected by drunk driving accidents on a regular basis. Between 2003 and 2012, almost 3,700 people were killed drunk driving crashes on Georgia roads.
If you were the victim of a drunk driving accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for the terrible choices of others. Drivers have a responsibility to protect others on the road by thinking responsible before getting behind the wheel—and those liable should pay.
If you or a loved one was hurt or killed in a DUI accident, the best thing you can do is get in touch with an Austell drunk driving accident lawyer immediately.
At John Foy & Associates, we’ve seen firsthand how much the negligence of a drunk driver can change a victim’s entire life. Our goal is to make the situation as painless as possible for you by winning you the money you deserve to recover and try to move on.
Our attorneys are experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to succeeding for you. And we never take your money unless we win you money. For a FREE consultation to get started, contact us by calling 404-400-4000, or by filling out the form to the right.
What Counts As Drunk Driving in Austell?
Under Georgia law, DUI applies to being under the influence of anything that impairs your ability to drive. This includes:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana, crack, cocaine, and other illegal drugs
- Drowsy cough syrup or other over-the-counter medicines that cause drowsiness
- glue, aerosols, or other toxic vapors
If the driver is under the influence of any substance, like those above, to the extent that driving is less safe, they should not be driving on in any physical control of a moving vehicle on Austell roads. If their blood alcohol concentration is at 0.08 grams or above within three hours after driving a vehicle, they are considered to be driving under the influence.
Breath and blood tests can test a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the case of alcohol. Blood and urine tests can show whether illegal drugs were in the driver’s system.
The penalties for violating these laws are extreme, especially when the drunk driver hits another person on the road. They made the choice to drive while intoxicated, so they are liable for the damages you faced as a victim of the drunk driving accident their negligence caused.
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How Much Money Can I Recover If I Was Hit By a Drunk Driver?
How much you can recover from a drunk driving case depends on your damages – which refer to everything you lost as a result of the DUI accident. Drunk driving victims can recover ALL of the damages other car accident victims are normally entitled to, including:
- Medical expenses, including doctor and hospital visits and prescription medications
- Repair costs for your vehicle or the cost of replacing a totaled car
- Money lost from the time you’ve had to take off work for the accident
- Pain and suffering damages
- Wrongful death costs if you lost a loved one in the DUI accident
In some situations, DUI victims can also recover what is known as punitive damages. This refers to extra money the drunk driver has to pay as punishment and restitution. Punitive damages are meant to send drunk drivers the message that driving while intoxicated is serious and they can expect to pay for their careless actions.
The exact amount you can recover will depend on the total of your damages as well as your lawyer – which is why it’s so crucial to choose a drunk driving lawyer who understands these types of cases. That being said, if you’re awarded punitive damages, your recovery can easily be worth as much as $100,000 or more.
Are Drunk Drivers Always “At Fault” in an Accident?
Not necessarily. However, it’s very rare when they aren’t. In most cases, the drunk driver’s decision to drive under the influence, and impaired choices they make on the road, directly result in the accident that leads to serious injuries and other damages.
What Should You do If the Drunk Driver Leaves the Scene of an Accident?
If the drunk driver hit you and drove away, this is a serious offense, and usually means being charged with both DUI and hit-and-run. They not only put you in danger with their decision to drink and drive, but they also failed to uphold their legal responsibility to report an accident and stay at the scene.
You might worry this means you won’t be able to seek damages for the accident, but don’t lose hope. Gather as much information as you can, including:
- The drunk driver’s license plate, if you can get it before they drive away
- Anything you can remember about the make, model, and color of the vehicle
- Identifying features you might have noticed about the driver
- The events that occurred directly before, during, and after the accident
- Information from anyone who saw the accident happen, as they might have seen or remember details you didn’t
You’ll also want to report the drunk driving hit-and-run to police right away and provide them with all the details you can about the accident. The more information they have, the better chance of tracking down the DUI hit-and-run offender. Also, call a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can start investigating the accident and work to ensure the guilty party pays for what they’ve put you through.
Talk to an Austell Drunk Driving Lawyer for Free
Georgia law takes drunk driving very seriously. If you were the victim of a drunk driving accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for any of your costs from the accident.
At John Foy & Associates, we want to make sure the liable driver pays for the damage they’ve caused by their careless decisions. Get in touch with us today and we’ll give you a FREE consultation to discuss your DUI case.
To get started, call us at 404-400-4000, or complete the form to the right of this page.
(404) 400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
