Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville

Georgia Drunk Driving Laws

Georgia’s DUI laws set the legal limit for a driver’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.08 percent. Any driver who registers a BAC of 0.08 or higher on a blood or breath test can be found guilty of drunk driving. This legal limit for commercial drivers is 0.04 percent, while it’s 0.02 percent for drivers under 21.

However, a driver does not need to register a BAC of 0.08 or higher to be found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI). If they had consumed any alcohol or drugs and it negatively affected their driving performance, they can be charged with DUI. Penalties can result in fines, jail time, and a suspended driver’s license.

Drunk Driving Statistics in Georgia

Drunk driving accidents continue to take a heavy toll across Georgia, including in the Lawrenceville area. Here are a few Georgia drunk driving statistics from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety:

• There were over 350 deaths from drunk driving accidents statewide in one recent year. These deaths accounted for about 24 percent of all traffic fatalities that year.
• About 63 percent of fatal accidents involving drunk drivers took place in urban areas, while the remaining 37 percent occurred in rural areas.
• Roughly 80 percent of all known impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes were men.
• Drivers aged 25-34 were most likely to be involved in fatal car accidents while impaired. Drivers aged 75 or older were least likely to be involved in fatal car accidents while impaired.
• Impaired drivers are more likely to drive without a seatbelt, putting them at much higher risk of serious injury or death. About 35 percent of all drivers involved in fatal accidents in a single recent year were not wearing a seatbelt, compared with about 63 percent of drivers with a recorded BAC of 0.08 or higher.

What To Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you suspect the other driver was drunk, here’s what you need to do to protect your safety and your right to recover compensation:

• Call 911 — You may need emergency medical treatment, and police can test the other driver for alcohol or drugs.
• Take pictures and video to document the crash — Get photos of the damage to all vehicles involved, your injuries, and anything in the area that might have contributed to the accident.
• Get contact information — If possible, get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance information, driver’s license number, and license plate number. Look around for any eyewitnesses and get their names and contact information.
• See a doctor as soon as you can — If you are not taken for emergency treatment from the crash scene, see your own doctor right away. You may have suffered injuries that don’t have symptoms yet. Your doctor will also record your injuries, which can prove valuable when you seek compensation.
• Keep evidence — Hold on to all your medical records, as they are a crucial piece of evidence in drunk driving accident cases. You can also keep a journal to document your pain and suffering during this time.
• Don’t talk to insurance companies — Do not give any statements to an insurance company until you have spoken to an attorney. This includes your own insurance company.
• Talk to a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible — The sooner you speak to an attorney, the easier it will be for them to find the necessary evidence to prove your case.

How Can I Prove the Other Driver Was Drunk After an Accident?

There are a few different ways you can establish that the other driver was drunk at the time of the accident, such as the following:

• Police accident reports — If the police conducted a field sobriety test or a blood or breath test on the other driver, they would likely include the test results in their accident report. You can request a copy of this report later.
• The other driver’s behavior — When you talk to the other driver after the crash, there are signs to watch for that may mean they are impaired. These signs include bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, difficulty staying awake, the smell of alcohol on their breath, and a lack of coordination. Be sure to communicate these signs to law enforcement.
• Eyewitness accounts — You or someone else may have seen the other driver acting carelessly in the moments leading up to the crash.
• Forensic accident investigations — Trained investigators can look at the crash scene to determine a driver’s actions in the moments leading up to the accident. For example, if the driver did not apply the brakes, that may suggest impairment slowed their reaction time.

It can be difficult to gather all of this evidence on your own while recovering from your injuries. But a skilled DUI accident victim attorney can handle the personal injury claim process for you.

Possible Liable Parties After a Lawrenceville Drunk Driving Accident

The main party who can be held liable for a drunk driving accident is the impaired driver. Personal injury claims are based on negligence, the legal concept that people can be held responsible for injuries they cause through their actions or inaction. Driving while impaired is generally considered a form of negligence, as it puts both the impaired driver and others at increased risk of injury.

However, the impaired driver isn’t the only party who can be held liable for a drunk driving accident. Georgia’s dram shop law allows bars, liquor stores, and other vendors to be held liable for an accident if either of the following two conditions is met:

• The vendor served alcohol to someone under the age of 21
• The vendor served alcohol to someone over age 21 who was visibly intoxicated

However, it can be difficult to hold vendors responsible for drunk driving accidents. That’s why it’s important to work with an attorney who has experience handling such cases.

Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accident Claims in Georgia

In most cases, you have two years from the date of a drunk driving accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you will likely not be able to recover any compensation for your injuries. It’s in your best interest to contact a drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident to be sure you have time to seek the financial recovery you need.

Compensation Available in Georgia Drunk Driving Accidents

The injuries and other losses you suffer in a drunk driving accident can be substantial. You shouldn’t have to suffer the financial consequences too. A personal injury attorney can help you demand compensation for being hit by a drunk driver, including for your: