When it comes to the complexity of the case and the severity of the injuries, automobile collisions involving drunk drivers can be far worse than crashes involving non-impaired drivers.
To begin, victims of drunk driving collisions have unique legal claims available to them, but these claims are often much more complicated than a typical automobile collision – and should be handled by an attorney. In drunk driving cases where another person(s) were injured, there is a potential for both a criminal and a civil case. The impaired driver will likely face criminal charges because of their “reckless conduct.” As in all collisions, the injured party may also pursue a claim or eventually a lawsuit. However, collisions caused by drunk drivers can result in substantially more recovery for victims if the drunk driver has valid insurance.
If a motorist is in a collision with a drunk driver, an attorney can help by collecting and analyzing any evidence from the case (ex: background reports. police reports, witness reports, expert opinions). They can perform a background investigation into the at-fault driver’s prior criminal history and analyze how the police handled the collision. The attorney can then persuade the insurance company to settle for a much higher amount than a traditional collision, due to the extreme circumstances of the collision. In addition to the claim or lawsuit to recover damages, there may be other legal considerations, such as: claims against the business or person who served alcohol to the impaired driver, and/or claims against the person who negligently allowed an impaired person to drive their automobile.
Drunk driving crashes tend to be worse than collisions with non-impaired drivers because of the injuries to the other driver or passengers involved. The drunk driver may have been experiencing blurred vision and slowed reaction time, meaning they were less likely than sober drivers to be able to swerve out of the way or step on the brakes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) all motorists have a one-in-three chance of being in an alcohol-impaired collision in their lifetime. Drunk driving fatalities claim 28 lives every day.
If you have been in injured in a collision with a drunk driver, the case may have left you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. A consultation with Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group - Gore can help you better understand your rights, and the possibility for recovery. Call us today at (404) 436-1529.