You can do your best to drive safely and defensively, but you cannot control other drivers. Too many people drive recklessly and irresponsibly, putting other drivers and passengers in danger.
Even drunk driving accidents that are not deadly can cause serious injuries and emotional trauma. If you were harmed or lost a family member in an accident caused by a drunk driver, an Alpharetta drunk driving accidents lawyer with the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and more.
Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accident Guide
How a Lawyer Can Help With Your Drunk Driving Accident Case?
Being injured in a drunk driving accident can be a frightening and overwhelming experience, but a lawyer with experience in handling cases like yours can help you handle the aftermath. As soon as you contact our team, we can start working for you, gathering evidence to build a case against the at-fault driver.
Our Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers will work with you in the weeks and months after the accident to ensure that you get full compensation for your losses. We can:
Investigate the Drunk Driving Accident
If you call us right away, we can come to the scene of the accident. But even if you don’t, we can still conduct a thorough investigation of what happened and collect evidence that shows the at-fault driver was under the influence.
This evidence may include:
- Results of toxicology reports and field sobriety tests
- Traffic and security camera footage
- Eyewitnesses accounts
- Police reports
- Photographs of the scene
Document Your Losses
We also document your losses so we can estimate their full value. A firm estimate of your losses is the best place to start negotiations for a settlement with the drunk driver’s insurance company.
We can document your losses by collecting evidence such as:
- Medical records, bills, and receipts
- Vehicle repair or replacement bills and receipts
- Photographs of your injuries
- Expert medical testimony
- Interviews with you, your family, and your friends
Communicate With the Insurance Company
Insurance representatives are trained to speak with you in a friendly and disarming manner in hopes that you apologize for the accident, admit fault, or say something that allows them to deny you compensation. Our lawyers know these tricks and can talk to the insurance company for you, protecting your interests.
Our team can also handle all written communication, file an insurance claim, and submit supporting documents for you. The next step will be negotiating a settlement on your behalf, so we can secure full compensation for all the losses you suffered.
Sue the Drunk Driver, if Necessary
We resolve most drunk driving accident cases by negotiating an out-of-court settlement. This solution appeals to both sides because it tends to be the quickest and least stressful option for everyone. However, we are always ready to sue the drunk driver if that’s what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. Our team can file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court.
Testimonials From Satisfied Clients
At the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, we work hard every day to get our clients the compensation they deserve after sustaining injuries or losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligent behavior. Many of our clients struggle financially and we believe they have the right to be fully compensated on time, not strung along by insurance companies that care only about their bottom line.
Positive testimonials from satisfied clients show us that we do things right. Lolita E. recommended our services to her family and friends after we prioritized her needs and maintained clear and consistent communication with her. Jamaal B. felt that we handled his case quickly, effectively, and with professionalism. We promise to treat your case with the same level of legal care.
Drunk Driving Violates the Law in Alpharetta
Alcohol is a depressant that makes people drowsy, reduces their reaction time, and impairs concentration. All these side effects inhibit a person’s ability to drive safely, which is why state law prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08 or higher.
The CDC reports that one of every three traffic deaths in the United States involves a drunk driver. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, the state convicts more than 12,000 persons for driving under the influence each year. But the police cannot pull over every drunk driver, and the state doesn’t convict everyone police arrest—meaning the actual number of drunk drivers on the road is higher.
If the driver who caused your accident in Alpharetta was legally drunk at the time of the collision, they should be held liable for your accident-related expenses. Our drunk driving accidents lawyers can evaluate your accident, look for evidence that the other driver was drunk, and help you seek compensation for the full value of your losses.
Drunk Drivers Are Negligent Drivers
Drunk driving accident cases fall under the umbrella of personal injury. All personal injury cases rely on demonstrating that one person injured another through their negligence, which is reckless or irresponsible behavior.
We must demonstrate that your case includes the four elements necessary for a valid personal injury case:
- Duty of care: This legal term describes an obligation to act in a way that does not place others at risk of harm. On the road, every driver owes a duty of care to every other driver and passenger, and even to cyclists and pedestrians.
- Breach of duty: The other driver breached or violated the duty of care by driving in a way that did put you at risk of harm. Drunk driving clearly puts others at risk, so a drunk driver certainly violates the duty of care.
- Causation: Plenty of people drink and drive without getting into an accident. You must show that your accident occurred because the other driver had been drinking.
- Damages: Even if the drunk driver clearly caused the accident, you do not have a case unless the accident caused you financial or non-financial losses, such as medical bills, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering.
Alpharetta Drivers Must Carry Auto Insurance
Drivers must carry auto insurance that meets the required minimum standards.
These standards are:
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per incident
You can seek compensation from the drunk driver’s insurance provider for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. If the driver was uninsured, you can seek compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it). Check with your insurance agent if you are not sure about the details of your coverage.
Drunk driving accidents in Alpharetta often cause serious injuries and property damage that quickly exceed the minimum coverage requirements. You can seek damages directly from the drunk driver if your medical bills or vehicle repair or replacement costs exceed what their insurance provides. A lawyer from our firm can help determine your total losses and pursue all avenues of compensation.
Damages Available After an Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving accidents can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially. No two cases are alike, so our lawyers serving Alpharetta cannot estimate how much your case is worth without thoroughly investigating what happened. We must also document your losses with evidence such as bills, receipts, and expert testimony.
Economic Damages in a Drunk Driving Accident Case
Economic damages cover tangible losses caused by the accident, such as:
- Medical expenses for any emergency treatment, ambulance bills, diagnostic imaging, hospitalizations, surgeries, follow-up care, and other services
- Medical equipment such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters
- Ongoing medical care if you face upcoming surgeries, therapy, or treatments or need long-term care because of your injuries
- Home modifications if your house needs accessibility features such as ramps, widened halls and doorways, and accessible bathrooms
- Property damage for the repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Loss of income such as salary, wages, tips, bonuses, and more
Non-Economic Damages in a Drunk Driving Accident Case
Non-economic damages cover your intangible losses such as pain and suffering or reduced quality of life.
Our lawyers have experience in assigning a dollar value to these seemingly priceless losses and can help you seek damages if you:
- Lost a limb or other body part
- Became permanently disabled or disfigured
- Need multiple surgeries
- Endured a lengthy recovery period
- Still experience chronic pain
- Became clinically anxious or depressed or suffer from PTSD
- Lost the ability to participate in your favorite hobbies or activities
- Have difficulty leaving the house and engaging with others
Wrongful Death Damages in a Drunk Driving Accident Case
If you lost a loved one in an Alpharetta drunk driving accident, state law allows you to recover damages for:
- Funeral and burial expenses such as embalming, cremation, coffin, memorial service, flowers, transportation, and more
- Medical expenses for the treatment your loved one received after the accident
- Pain and suffering that your loved one experienced before passing away
- Loss of the full value of life for your family member, including income, retirement benefits, household chores, childcare, and more
We Offer Free Consultations and Affordable Legal Care
Choosing an Alpharetta drunk driving accidents lawyer to represent you is a big decision. That’s why we offer free, no-obligation consultations at the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group. You can tell us about your case, and we can tell you what to expect from the legal process.
If you hire our team to represent you, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means we take our legal fees from your insurance settlement or verdict award if you win. If we lose your case, you owe nothing. We believe that everyone deserves access to legal care, and this setup makes our services affordable to everyone.
File Your Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit Before It’s Too Late
Under state law, you only have a short amount of time to seek damages from the drunk driver responsible for your accident. You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit and two years from the date your loved one died to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you wait too long, you risk forfeiting your right to sue the at-fault driver and hold them accountable for their actions.
The drunk driving accidents lawyers at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group understand how important it is to file a lawsuit before time runs out and can ensure that you meet all legal deadlines.
During your free consultation, we can review the timeline of your case and determine how long you have to sue the responsible driver.
Contact an Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accidents Lawyer Today
A drunk driving accident can traumatize you enough on its own. When you add painful injuries, emotional trauma, and a mountain of bills because you cannot return to work, the entire experience can seem insurmountable. But you don’t have to go through it alone—Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group is here to guide you every step of the way and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We know how hard it is to focus on legal matters while you are still struggling to heal from your injuries. Let our Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers do all the work for you, so you can focus on your recovery. We have helped many accident victims like you and have the experience needed to represent your best interests.
Contact the Alpharetta drunk driving accident legal team at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group today at (470) 465-7825 for a free consultation to learn how our attorneys can help you seek damages for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Client Testimonial
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