Buckhead Accident Attorney: Drunk Driving and Damages

buckhead accident attorney

It is bad enough when you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. However, if someone smashes into your car because they’re drunk driving, that’s another thing entirely. Nobody has the right to get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking. They are putting their own life at risk but they’re also putting the life of everybody else at risk too. They do not have the right to do this. When our Buckhead accident attorney meets with a client who’s been involved in a drunk driving crash, they make it their mission to get their clients as much money as possible. The person responsible for your injuries deserves to pay.

Here, we’ll discuss the impact a DUI can have on your car accident case. If the other driver was arrested and charged with DUI, then it shouldn’t be hard to prove your case, right? The truth is that, even if the defendant was drunk at the time of the crash, your car accident lawyer in Buckhead still has to prove fault. You can’t just assume that the defendant’s being drunk is enough to guarantee you damages. Your Buckhead accident attorney needs to treat your case the same way they would any other.

If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, you should call our office right away. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. You can call and schedule yours today.

Nobody is Ever Automatically Entitled to Compensation in a Car Accident Lawsuit

It is not safe to ever assume that you’re entitled to damages in your car accident lawsuit. Our Buckhead accident attorneys have handled some cases where we didn’t think our client had a shot at winning. We’ve also handled many where we were confident our client would prevail only to find out the judge sided with the defendant.

Our goal is to present enough evidence to demonstrate that the other driver was negligent. We also have to show that you suffered either physical or financial injuries. It isn’t enough to show that you were involved in an accident. Our car accident lawyers in Buckhead have to show that you were hurt and that your injuries were directly caused by the defendant’s negligence.

Your Car Accident Lawyer in Buckhead Will Use the Defendant’s Arrest as Proof of Fault

One positive thing about the defendant being arrested for DUI is that we can use that against them in court. What your Buckhead accident attorney will do is get a copy of the defendant’s arrest. Then they’ll submit that evidence to the insurance company. If they still refuse to pay your claim even with proof of the other driver’s DUI, you’ll have no choice but to sue.

When your car accident lawyer in Buckhead files suit, they’ll name the other driver and their insurance carrier. Once the insurance adjuster sees that you’re willing to take the case to court, they may change their tune. It will be hard for them to explain to a judge why they won’t settle the case when their own client was drunk at the time of the crash.

Depending on the Severity of Your Injuries, You May Be Entitled to Significant Damages

Some of the most dangerous accidents are those involving a drunk driver. When someone is under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, they aren’t thinking straight. Many of them cannot feel pain the same way they would if they were sober. This causes them to not only drive erratically, but to take risks they normally wouldn’t take. When they do crash into your vehicle, they may walk away unscathed. You and the other passengers in your car are the ones who will suffer the brunt of the injuries.

Some of the injuries our clients have suffered in drunk driving accidents include the following:

  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Brain injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Burn injuries

Any of these can be enough to put you out of commission for quite some time. Others, such as paralysis or a traumatic brain injury, can cause a permanent disability. You should be fairly compensated for these injuries.

Your Buckhead Accident Attorney Can Even Demand Punitive Damages

When your Buckhead accident attorney files suit, they will demand certain damages. In most auto accident cases, we demand the following:

  • Medical bills and future medical bills
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages
  • Lost future income or disability
  • Pain and suffering

One difference when it comes to a drunk driving accident is that your car accident lawyer in Buckhead may demand punitive damages as well. These are meant to accomplish two things. First, the judge grants punitive damages to show the defendant how serious their behavior was. Second, they want others to see what will happen if they decide to drink and drive and end up getting into a crash.

For Your Best Chances of Recovery, Contact a Seasoned Buckhead Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you are likely entitled to significant damages. You have the right to feel safe on the road. It’s hard to do that knowing that there are drunk drivers on the road. If something should happen and you are hurt by a drunk driver, call our office right away. We can schedule your free, initial consultation as soon as possible after your accident. Come in and meet with a skilled car accident lawyer in Buckhead. We want to get started on your case while it is still fresh. This way, the evidence isn’t stale and any eyewitnesses to the crash will still have the incident fresh in their minds.

We suggest you call today so you can set up a date and time to come into the office. Sit down with a seasoned Buckhead accident attorney and explain what happened. Show them any information you have related to the crash. After they’ve had a chance to thoroughly review your case, they will have a better idea of how strong your case really is. Since the consultation is free, you don’t have anything to lose.