Drunk driving is one of the greatest dangers on the roads of Georgia. Anytime someone chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, they are significantly increasing the risk to other road users’ safety. Alcohol causes delayed reaction times and impaired decision-making, which increases both the likelihood and severity of a collision. The consequences of these crashes often leave victims with severe pain and suffering, financial upheaval, and a profound sense of injustice.
If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one because of a drunk driver in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, you may be eligible to seek compensation for what you’ve suffered. Working with an experienced drunk driving accident attorney at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you demand every penny you’re owed. We’ve made our name on providing individualized support and legal services for injured and bereaved Georgians dealing with car accident claims, and we are ready to share our experience and skills with you.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you.
Georgia Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
Like most states, Georgia has strict laws regarding impaired driving. While these laws aim to deter this dangerous behavior, the rates of drunk driving remain alarmingly high. For the last several years, 24 percent of car accident deaths in Georgia have involved an impaired driver. One of the most shocking Georgia drunk driving statistics is that most fatalities that occur in these crashes (63 percent) are people who are not in the impaired driver’s car.
One reason these accidents are so dangerous is that the influence of alcohol increases the incidence of other risky driving behaviors. For example, in a recent year, drivers with an elevated blood alcohol content (BAC) level were 2.3 times more likely to exceed the speed limit when compared to sober drivers. These statistics underscore the correlation between driving while intoxicated and the heightened risk of severe traffic accidents.
What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver
Once you’ve sought medical attention and any injuries have been addressed, you can take these essential steps to protect your rights to compensation:
- Save all paperwork related to your medical treatment, such as doctor’s visits, tests, and prescriptions.
- Document the damage to your vehicle with photos and repair estimates.
- Keep a journal detailing how the crash has affected your daily activities and quality of life. This will help demonstrate the full effects of the injuries.
- Save any evidence from the scene, including contact info for witnesses. Police reports and 911 call transcripts can also help prove fault later.
- Consult a car accident attorney to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash and guide you through the car accident claim process. Make sure they have experience handling drunk driving accidents.
How to Prove the Other Driver Was Intoxicated
There are a few key ways to show the driver who hit you was legally impaired due to alcohol consumption. First, the police likely administered sobriety tests and a chemical BAC test at the scene. The results of these tests and officer observations will be critical. Witness statements about the driver’s behavior before the crash can also help demonstrate intoxication, such as swerving or failing to maintain a proper speed.
Your drunk driving accident lawyer can request the driver’s medical records, which may show their BAC level. They can also subpoena any bar or restaurant receipts from that day to determine how much alcohol the driver consumed. Expert testimony from toxicologists can help interpret BAC results and analyze the likely effects on the driver’s functioning. Crash reconstruction specialists can examine whether driver errors such as swerving or delayed braking are consistent with impairment.
These are just a few strategies your car accident attorney might employ to compile strong evidence of the driver’s intoxication.
Who’s Liable After a Georgia Drunk Driving Accident?
In drunk driving car accidents, the intoxicated driver is often considered primarily liable for any injuries and other losses they cause. Their insurance company would be responsible for compensating victims. However, depending on the circumstances, other parties may also share liability. For example:
- If the drunk driver was served alcohol by a bar or restaurant while visibly intoxicated, that establishment could be liable under dram shop laws.
- If the driver was working at the time, their employer may be vicariously liable.
- If there were any other drivers involved who contributed to the crash, they could share fault.
Determining all responsible parties is critical to maximizing compensation. An attorney can pinpoint additional sources of liability through investigation and litigation if necessary, allowing victims to pursue multiple avenues for full recovery.
Georgia Dram Shop Laws
Georgia has dram shop laws that allow accident victims to hold bars, restaurants, and other liquor vendors liable if they over-served a patron who later caused drunk driving injuries. To succeed with a dram shop claim, the injured party must show that:
- The vendor provided alcohol to an underage or noticeably intoxicated individual,
- The drunk driver caused the accident, and
- The over-service directly contributed to their intoxication and impaired driving.
Even social hosts like party hosts can be liable under dram shop laws if they knowingly furnished alcohol to someone underage or clearly drunk, and the guest later injured someone while driving impaired. Victims of car accidents can potentially recover compensation from any provider who negligently served alcohol to the at-fault driver. Pursuing dram shop claims alongside claims against the drunk driver can significantly improve the chances of obtaining total compensation.
How Our Peachtree Corners Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help
If a drunk driver has injured you, you might expect that filing an accident claim will be reasonably straightforward. After all, why would there be any trouble demonstrating that an intoxicated motorist was at fault for the accident that caused your injuries? However, successfully recovering the total and fair compensation you deserve might be more challenging than you realize.
One major roadblock: insurance agencies are notorious for undervaluing or even rejecting claims, even if the claimant believes their case is clear-cut. Insurers are more interested in protecting their bottom line than helping you achieve the justice you deserve. As such, they will find ways to shift the blame onto you. Because Georgia is a comparative negligence state, whether you receive compensation—and how much you get—will depend on how much your actions contributed to the crash. If the insurance company argues that you behaved negligently, they can try to reduce your payout or even reject your claim.
Our experienced Peachtree Corners drunk driving accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, can fight to protect your claim by:
- Thoroughly investigating the accident to prove the other driver was at fault
- Calculating the total value of your losses
- Negotiating aggressively with the insurance adjuster to secure a fair settlement
- Taking the at-fault party to court if the insurer does not offer you the compensation you deserve
While we handle all of this, you can focus on recovering from the physical injuries and psychological trauma of the crash. Let us give you the guidance and support you need to get your life back on track.
Compensation Available in a Georgia Drunk Driving Accident Case
The drunk driver who injured you could owe you compensation for a range of harm you suffered as a result, including:
- Medical expenses – You can claim any current and future costs related to emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, devices, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments.
- Lost wages – If injuries from the crash prevent you from working, you can seek compensation for lost income, including wages, salary, commission, tips, bonuses, and benefits you missed out on. You will need documentation from your employer.
- Loss of future earning capacity – If your injuries permanently affect your ability to work or earn as much, future lost wages can be factored into your claim.
- Pain and suffering – Compensation for intangible losses can cover both physical pain from injuries and emotional suffering like depression or anxiety stemming from the trauma.
- Loss of consortium – Your spouse may be able to claim compensation for the impact your injuries have had on your marital relations.
Furthermore, in the event of a fatal drunk driving accident, the victim’s family can pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and other losses.
An experienced car accident lawyer can assess the full impact of the drunk driver’s negligence and build a robust car accident claim to recover every cent you’re owed. Maximizing compensation is essential to helping restore stability after the tragedy you endured.
Talk to Our Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Peachtree Corners, GA Today
Nobody should have to live through the nightmare of a car accident caused by a drunk driver. However, until more Georgians learn to behave responsibly, these crashes will continue to impact innocent people. If you were hurt due to a drunk driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation. The experienced Peachtree Corners car accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, are here to demand it on your behalf.
We pride ourselves on the personalized attention we give each client and want you to know we care about you and your case. Let us fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case review to learn more about how we can help you.
