Peachtree Corners Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Being hit by a drunk driver is different from an ordinary accident. The crash was completely preventable, the driver made a choice, and the injuries are often worse because impaired drivers often don’t even apply the brakes before impact.

In these cases, there’s more than just a criminal case; the injured party can try to obtain monetary compensation for their injuries and other losses. An experienced Peachtree Corners car crash lawyer can pursue everything the law allows. Call us today to schedule a free evaluation.

Why Injured Clients Choose Bridger Law Group After a Drunk Driving Accident in Peachtree Corners

Drunk driving cases can involve additional issues, including the potential for punitive damages, which makes experience matter even more when you’re looking for a lawyer. Injured clients turn to Bridger Law Group because of our commitment and our track record.

Over $60 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients
More than 20 years serving the community
Recognition among The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

Contact our office today and let us help you get what you’ve lost.

Why You Need a Lawyer After a Drunk Driving Crash

It seems like a drunk driving accident case should be easy; the driver was drunk, so they should be responsible for paying your damages. But in civil claims, it can be a little more complicated than that. Fortunately, a drunk driving lawyer in Peachtree Corners can handle the situation for you. Here’s how:

A lawyer obtains the evidence from the criminal case, including the arrest report, breath or blood test results, and body camera footage, and uses it to support your civil claim, since the DUI prosecution and your injury case are separate proceedings.
A lawyer can evaluate whether the evidence supports a punitive damages claim and include that claim when appropriate.
A lawyer investigates whether anyone else shares responsibility, such as a bar or restaurant that kept serving a visibly intoxicated person before they got behind the wheel.

If the driver’s choice to drink was the cause of your injuries, Georgia law lets you hold them accountable for it.

How Does a DUI Affect a Personal Injury Claim?

Evidence that the driver violated Georgia’s DUI laws can support the negligence claim and, depending on the circumstances, may also support a negligence-per-se theory. Even without a conviction, results from breath, blood, or field sobriety tests can weigh heavily in settlement discussions and at trial.

Police reports, sworn witness statements, official BAC findings, and photographic evidence all build a solid injury claim following a DUI accident. Acting promptly to gather these materials is critical.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If you’re injured by a DUI driver near Peachtree Corners, the law permits you to seek compensation that addresses the specific harms and setbacks from the crash. This generally means you may recover damages for your medical bills, including both hospital dates and long-term rehabilitation needs, that arose due to the accident. Missed work and related wage loss are recoverable as well.

In addition to the money lost right now, claims can include payment for physical pain you endure during both treatment and the recovery process. Long-term impacts, like ongoing daily discomfort and a loss of enjoyment for activities and hobbies in your life, can also be compensable. Insurers don’t always offer fair compensation, which is where an injury lawyer near Peachtree Corners comes in to try to collect evidence and build a strong claim.

Can You Recover Punitive Damages After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Yes, Georgia law may allow injured people to pursue punitive damages against a drunk driver. Punitive damages aren’t meant to address your medical bills or wage loss; instead, they serve as a way to punish bad conduct and deter similar conduct from taking place in the future.

These damages are only available when there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted intentionally, maliciously, fraudulently, recklessly, oppressively, or with such a serious lack of care that it showed conscious disregard for the consequences. If these damages are awarded, the value depends on factors like the driver’s level of impairment, history, and details of how the accident affected those involved.

Who Else May Be Liable Besides the Drunk Driver?

The driver may not be the only one responsible for what happened. Depending on the facts, other parties can share liability:

A bar or restaurant: A bar, restaurant, or other provider may be liable in limited circumstances if it knowingly serves alcohol to someone who is noticeably intoxicated, knowing that person will soon be driving, and the service contributes to the resulting injury. Proving these claims often involves receipts, surveillance footage, and witness accounts from inside the establishment that night.
A social host: A party host is only responsible for a guest’s drunk driving in limited situations. The host must have knowingly served alcohol to an underage guest or to an adult who was visibly drunk, and the host must have actually known that person was going to drive.
The vehicle’s owner: This can be the case if they knowingly let an intoxicated or unfit driver use their car, under a theory called negligent entrustment. The key question is what the owner knew about the driver’s condition or history when they handed over the keys.
The driver’s employer: When the crash happened while the driver was working, the employer could be vicariously liable in some instances. Commercial policies are typically much larger than personal auto coverage, which can significantly change what’s available for your claim.

Identifying these additional parties can be helpful if your injuries exceed the driver’s insurance coverage.

Contact a Peachtree Corners Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

The criminal case against the drunk driver and your injury claim are two separate things, and a DUI conviction doesn’t automatically mean you will recover compensation. Your civil claim needs its own evidence and strategy. Contact our office at (404) 482-3330 and let us take that on while you focus on recovering.