Under Georgia state law, all drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. There are no exceptions, drivers must comply with traffic regulations. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a very serious violation of the basic duty.
In Georgia, any driver whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at or above 0.08 can be arrested for drunk driving. While our state has tough DUI laws, intoxicated driving is still a very serious problem.
In fact, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of major auto accidents in Georgia. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Georgia, 353 people were killed in DUI-related crashes in Georgia in 2019 alone. To put this terrible statistic into the perspective, this means that drunk driving is a factor in more than one in four deadly accidents in Georgia. Beyond that, thousands more innocent people suffer debilitating injuries in wholly avoidable drunk driving wrecks. We need to do better.
At MG Law, our skilled Conyers DUI attorneys are strong advocates for the victims of DUI accidents. Our legal team has a deep understanding of the special considerations that must be addressed in drunk driving accident injury cases. We work aggressively to hold the perpetrators accountable so that victims can recover full financial compensation. If you or a family member was injured in Conyers or the local Georgia area, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm for free legal guidance.
How to Prove Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Case
If you were injured in a crash with a drunk driver, the intoxicated driver is very likely to face criminal penalties. In Conyers, GA, all drunk driving cases are taken seriously. Any drunk driver could potentially face harsh consequences for their misconduct.
Further, in cases where an innocent victim was severely injured in a crash, prosecutors have the authority to seek heightened criminal penalties against the intoxicated driver. While the criminal case is an important aspect of the legal process, you will not be able to get financial compensation as part of the criminal trial. Instead, you must initiate a civil case.
In Georgia, car accident injury claims are typically brought under Ga. Code Ann. Sec. 51-12-33. You can use the evidence presented within the criminal trial, and its results, as part of your civil case. A criminal conviction or a guilty plea is often used to prove liability in a drunk driving accident case. Still, this is only the beginning of the process.
There is often a long, complex road to get the maximum available compensation. Injured DUI accident victims should work with an experienced Conyers drunk driving accident lawyer who will ensure that the drunk driver who caused the crash is held legally liable for the full value of the damage caused.
After a DUI accident, life-altering consequences may occur. We fight for the compensation you are rightfully owed.
$970,000 DUI Settlement
MG Law settled a case for a client that was t-boned by a drunk tow truck driver. The client was driving down a two-lane road, with one individual lane heading north, and one heading south. Our client was headed north, while the tow truck was headed south. As they approached each other, the two truck driver swerved out of his lane, striking our client’s vehicle on the driver’s side. The drunk driver hit her so hard that she was knocked into a telephone pole. Our investigation revealed a series of prior issues with the same driver, who was also driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.
MG Law was retained days after the collision, and was able to locate video footage of the collision captured at a nearby business as well as speak to witnesses while the matter was still fresh in their minds. MG Law also retained an orthopedic surgeon and neurologist for client, as the client sustained fractures to her neck that required surgery and close monitoring to maximize her chances for a complete recovery. MG Law also ensured that the client received the physical therapy needed to help her recover after she underwent successful neck surgery.
Through a combination of thorough investigation, prompt attention to the client’s injuries, and close collaboration with our client and our client’s medical providers, we were able to help our client recover from her injuries and settle her case for over $970,000.00.
Financial Compensation Available For DUI Accident Victims
DUI accident claims are especially complex. As in other car accident injury cases, drunk driving accident victims are entitled to financial compensation for the full cost of their damages. In Georgia, you can recover for direct monetary losses and intangible, noneconomic losses.
Though, in either case, you must be able to prove your damages to be eligible for financial compensation. This is one of the most difficult aspects of the car accident claims process. Insurance companies are aggressive in attempting to limit settlement offers.
Our Conyers, GA drunk driving accident lawyers have helped victims recover for:
- Emergency medical bills;
- Medication and medical equipment;
- All other medical expenses;
- Physical therapy costs;
- Disability;
- Lost wages;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental distress;
- Disfigurement;
- Reduced quality of life;
- Punitive damages; and
- Wrongful death.
Also, we have experience handling the unique complexities of drunk driving accident cases. With limited exceptions, personal injury damages are only meant to be compensatory. This means that victims are only able to recover compensation that is equivalent to a specific loss or damage that they incurred in the accident.
However, drunk driving accident cases are sometimes the exception to this rule. When a drunk driver causes an innocent victim severe injuries, or kills an innocent person, punitive damages may be available to the victim in their family. Punitive damages are not directly tied to the victim’s losses. Instead, they are designed to punish the abhorrent conduct of the intoxicated driver. When awarded, punitive damages can be substantial. Victims should work with a lawyer who understands how these damages could potentially impact their claim.
What You Need to Know About Dealing With Insurance Adjusters
In most cases, drunk driving accident claims are defended by insurance companies. As these cases open the insurance provider up to the possibility of being held liable for considerable damages, insurance adjusters are incentivized to push victims into a quick and low settlement offer.
DUI accident victims must always remember that insurance companies are for-profit institutions. Above all else, their core objective is to protect their bottom line.
Unfortunately, this means that insurance companies are not eager to pay out full settlement offers to drunk driving accident victims. If you were injured in a DUI crash in Conyers, GA, you should deal with the insurance company and the defendant directly through your Georgia car accident lawyer.
Do not give a statement to the company, do not admit partial fault for the crash, and do not sign any documents or a settlement agreement without first consulting with your attorney. Your lawyer will ensure that your best interests are fully protected.
Contact Our DUI Accident Attorneys in Conyers, GA Today
At MG Law, our top-rated Conyers drunk driving accident lawyers have extensive experience handling drunk driving accident injury claims. Victims of drunk driving accidents should seek professional legal representation as soon as possible after a crash. Our law firm is ready to protect your rights.
If you or a family member was injured in a wreck with an intoxicated driver, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team for a free initial consultation.
From our law offices in Conyers, Covington, and Atlanta, we represent drunk driving accident victims throughout North Georgia, including in Newton County, Rockdale County, Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, and Henry County.
