What Can Be Done When A Drunk Driver Causes Injuries?
Drunk driving accidents kill and injure many people in Georgia each year. Victims of these crashes are often left to deal with the serious emotional, physical, and financial toll.
If a drunk driver has harmed you in an accident, you should consult an injury attorney as soon as possible. At The Law Offices of T. Andrew Miller, LLC, in Atlanta, we will carefully examine the facts of your case and develop the appropriate legal strategy.
How To Assert Your Legal Rights
If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel that ends up causing harm to someone else. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act under the same circumstances.
To prevail on a negligence claim, the plaintiff must show that the driver owed a duty of care to the plaintiff and that the driver breached the duty of care by driving while intoxicated, which is a violation of Georgia law. The accident must have been a direct consequence of the driver’s intoxication.
Intoxicated Truck Drivers
If you were struck by an intoxicated truck driver, you should be aware that truck drivers and trucking companies are required to follow strict regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other rules imposed by the state of Georgia.
Generally, if an intoxicated truck driver has struck you while he or she was on the job, you may be able to hold the driver’s employer liable.
Types Of Damages For Drunk Driving Accidents
Compensatory damages can cover medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. Punitive damages also might be available. Additionally, punitive damages are intended to punish and deter defendants who commit egregious acts.
Under Georgia law, there is no restriction on punitive damages in car accident cases involving a driver intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, in contrast to claims based on other forms of negligence.
Speak With A Lawyer About Your Case
Attorney T. Andrew Miller, in Atlanta, has vast experience litigating motor vehicle accidents. Furthermore, if you have been injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, call us at 678-605-9109, or contact us online.