Drunk driving accidents are dangerous, often deadly, and entirely preventable. When drivers operate vehicles while intoxicated, they put every other driver on the road at risk for tragedy.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a drunk driver, call a North Druid drunk driving accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates. You not only deserve compensation for your losses, you deserve justice. Drunk drivers must be held accountable for the damage they inflict.
Georgia’s Drunk Driving Laws
In Georgia and every other state except Utah, if drivers aged 21 years or older operate a private motor vehicle and their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is .08% or higher, those drivers are driving under the influence (DUI). For commercial vehicle drivers, the legal limit is .04%, and for drivers under the age of 21, the limit is .02%.
The penalties for driving drunk in Georgia vary depending on the extent of the damage the driver caused and their status as a first-time or repeat offender. If you are the victim of a drunk driving crash, you deserve compensation for your injuries and losses, whether the offense is their first or their third. To pursue this compensation and the justice you deserve, secure legal representation from a drunk driving accident attorney in North Hills.
Proving a Drunk Driver’s Negligence
For your claim to be successful, you have to prove that the drunk driver’s negligence caused your injuries. A drunk driver can face criminal penalties for driving drunk but not be held responsible for your injuries if some other factor, a malfunctioning traffic signal or poorly lit roadway, for example, is to blame.
If a driver’s drunkenness is the cause of your injuries, you do not want the at-fault party to avoid paying compensation because they found a clever way to place the blame on something or someone else. Your North Druid drunk driving accident attorney will not allow that to happen. Your lawyer will carry out a meticulous investigation of the accident, collecting evidence to prove the driver’s negligence. The evidence will likely include
- Testimony and police reports from arresting officers/officers at the scene
- Witness statements attesting to the smell or presence of alcohol in the vehicle
- Witnesses who saw the vehicle moving erratically
- 911 recordings
- Police body or patrol car cameras
- Other surveillance or traffic cameras
North Druid Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
Other Parties Who May Be to Blame
The drunk driver may not be the only one to blame for your accident and injuries. Georgia’s dram shop and social host laws may affect your claim.
Dram Shop and Social Host Laws
Georgia Code 51-1-40 allows victims of drunk driving accidents to file against sellers of alcohol who “willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully” serve or sell alcohol to individuals under the legal drinking age of 21 or individuals in an observable state of intoxication when the server knows the intoxicated individual will soon operate a motor vehicle.
Under Georgia’s social host laws, hosts of backyard parties or barbeques or other social events in their own homes face the same liability.
Proving negligence and navigating the specifics of Georgia’s laws can be difficult, especially for victims experiencing the traumatic consequences of a drunk driving accident. There is no need to attempt that challenge when you can enlist the services of an experienced and expert drunk driving accident attorney in North Druid.
Damages You Can Collect in a North Druid Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk drivers who damage your property or body in an accident caused by their negligence owe you damages. Do not accept an offer or discuss settlement amounts with the at-fault party or their insurance adjusters without speaking to a lawyer first. In fact, you should have your lawyer from John Foy & Associates handle all communication with those parties.
There is no standard settlement amount for drunk driving accidents. However, you can expect your drunk driving accident lawyer in North Druid to assess all aspects of your case and pursue a settlement to cover the following:
- Expenses for medical interventions and future medical care, if required.
- Missed wages and lost future wages if you cannot return to work.
- Repair or replacement of property, such as a vehicle, damaged in the accident.
- Physical, emotional, and mental trauma caused by the accident and its effects.
Diminished enjoyment of life if your injuries prevent you from participating in activities and engaging with others as you did prior to your accident.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not compensatory damages. Punitive damages punish the offender for their recklessness. Drunk driving accidents are completely preventable. Seeking punitive damages is a way to send a message to all drivers to refrain from drinking and driving and putting innocent roadway sharers at risk.
Wrongful Death
For the last full year of data collection, a tragic 11,654 fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents nationwide, as reported by the NHTSA. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reports 353 statewide fatalities. If your loved one was killed in a drunk driving accident, a drunk driving accident lawyer in North Druid can help you secure a wrongful death settlement.
This settlement can recoup related medical costs, end-of-life costs, lost earnings, and loss of a relationship. Your wrongful death claim can also seek punitive damages.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving North Druid, call 404-400-4000
Drunk Driving Rates in the United States and Georgia
Every state and the District of Columbia have laws against driving drunk. Despite these laws, education, punishments, and the availability of alternative means of travel, such as Uber, Lyft, or public transportation, many drivers continue to drive drunk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that 30% of traffic accidents in the United States involve drunk drivers. Georgia’s Department of Driver Safety (DDS) reports 12,008 drunk driving convictions for the last full year of data collection.
Get the Compensation and Justice You Deserve
Drunk drivers must be held accountable for the physical, emotional, and financial pain and suffering they cause. Start working toward justice, recovering your losses, and a financially stable future by scheduling a free consultation with a North Druid drunk driving accident attorney from John Foy & Associates today.
The Strong Arm of Georgia is on your side.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form