Drunk driving accidents are one of the leading causes of death globally. In fact, it’s well known that drunk driving kills one person every 52 minutes in the U.S. Unfortunately, Georgia is no exception to drunk drivers, with the state ranking in the top 20 of highest DUI rates in the nation.
If a drunk driver hits you in Union City, know that the law is on your side. Our car accident lawyers in Union City at John Foy & Associates can help you file your claim to win a settlement and get the justice you rightfully deserve. Learn more about how we can help you.
How Our Union City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Our Union City drunk driving accident lawyers can assist you in winning financial compensation in several ways:
- Gather evidence that’s critical to your claim
- Help you build a strong case for your claim to present against the insurance company
- Consult with experts for their supporting testimony in favor of your claim
- Handle all your communications with other parties
- Review all deals offered by the insurance company to ensure they’re fair and reflect your damages appropriately
- Calculate all the damages you sustained
As you can see, our lawyers do much more than just file paperwork and fill out legal documents on your behalf. We will always represent you and your best interests at all times. When we take on a case, we represent our clients with fierceness and dedication to ensure that they get their settlements.
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Damages You Can Recover After a Drunk Driving Accident
You can recover several damages after a drunk driving accident. We have separated them into three different categories to make them easier to understand.
Economic Damages
Economic damages have a fixed monetary value attached to them and usually consist of damages such as:
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repairs or replacements
- Property losses
- Medical expenses
These damages often don’t fluctuate too much depending on the circumstances of your drunk driving accident and often have bills, invoices, and receipts that show how much they cost you. Thus, they’re much easier for our lawyers to keep track of when calculating your settlement.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the opposite of economic damages and have no fixed values. Some examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Wrongful death
- Loss of consortium or enjoyment of life
- Disability or disfigurement resulting from the accident
Many of these non-economic damages aren’t that simple to put a price on as there’s no general baseline price on how much pain and suffering is and what it should scale to. Each drunk driving accident victim will have different amounts they can recover for their non-economic damages.
Our drunk driving accident lawyers know that no amount of money can restore bodily function, ease your pain, or replace the life of a loved one. In getting you a fair settlement for both your economic and non-economic damages, we hope to assist you in obtaining the financial means you need to move forward with your life after the accident.
Punitive Damages
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-12-5.1 allows for personal injury victims to recover an additional reward for punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages. These damages are not compensatory in nature and are separate from your main settlement.
Rewards for punitive damages only happen under certain circumstances, such as egregious negligence. In most drunk driving cases, victims can typically qualify for punitive damages. However, there is no guarantee that you will receive any reward. Our lawyers will review your case and see if you are eligible.
File Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim As Soon as Possible
Drunk driving accidents have a two-year statute of limitations in Georgia. This means that while the law allows you to file a claim to recover financial compensation and punish the drunk driver, that doesn’t mean you have all the time in the world to do so. Waiting too long to file a claim makes it harder to prove your case during negotiations or at trial.
While you recover from your injuries, you may find it difficult to file a claim and fight against the drunk driver and their insurance company on your own. But that’s where our experienced drunk driving accident lawyers in Union City come in to assist you every step of the way.
Never Accept the First Settlement Offer
After your drunk driving accident, the drunk driver’s insurance may try to contact you and offer you a quick settlement for your damages. Never accept this initial settlement offer. If you must speak to any insurance representative, be vague and don’t give out any information. Never admit to anything, and don’t apologize for any part of your accident.
Remember, insurance companies are businesses, and their primary goal is to make and save money. Even in cases of drunk driving, they’re always hesitant to pay the proper amount of financial compensation you need. Instead of settling for a lowball offer, our Union City drunk driving accident lawyers will fight hard to ensure that you get adequately compensated.
Talk to Our Union City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
With no upfront fees and no risk, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a free initial consultation on your case. The Union City drunk driving accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates are ready to assist you today. Please schedule an appointment with us online or over the phone at any time. We are available 24/7.
(404) 400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
