Drunk driving is a serious offense that endangers the offender and the other drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 30 people a day die in drunk driving-related accidents. In fact, they reported that 10,511 people died in 2018. They also reported the annual cost in lost lives and losses in 2010, the last time they calculated this value, was $44 billion for just that one year.
If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drunk driver, you can pursue compensation for your losses. An Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC is available to assist victims. We can help you collect evidence of the accident, calculate your losses, file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, and, if necessary, represent you at trial. Our goal is your healthy recovery—physically, financially, and mentally.
Call (844) 730-0233 today for a free review of your drunk driving accident with a member of our team. If we feel your case qualifies, we can take you on contingency. You will pay nothing upfront. We only collect when you receive a fair settlement or court award.
How Alcohol Affects a Driver
Alcohol can begin to affect a driver after the first drink. It affects higher brain reasoning, vision, and muscle coordination. The measure of alcohol in the system is known as blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Per the US Code Title 23, Chapter 4 § 403(h)(5)(B), the legal BAC limit is .08.
At that level, the driver will exhibit signs of poor balance and eye-to-hand coordination. They will have a slower reaction time, slurred speech, and compromised vision. Their ability to see any changes in the road and react to them will be so diminished that they may not recognize a danger until they are right on top of it, and by that time, they will not have the ability to change course regardless.
In addition, they will have impaired judgment, so much so that they will not understand the danger they pose to others when they get behind the wheel of a car. Alcohol will even affect their memory. They will forget where they are, drive to wrong locations, or worse.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Atlanta, call (844) 730-0233
The Effect of Drunk Driving in Atlanta
Although drunk driving has gone down drastically in the last three decades, we still feel its effects here in Atlanta. Fulton and Dekalb Counties, the two counties that the city of Atlanta resides, reported 69 traffic fatalities due to alcohol in 2018, according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GGOHS).
To prevent any further loss of life, Georgia has harsh penalties for violators. After just the first offense, violators could face a year in jail, up to $1,000 in fines, a suspended license for a year, a minimum mandatory 40 community service hours, and a $210 reinstatement fee on their driver’s license, according to the GGOHS.
All this is well and good to prevent and punish those who commit the crime of drinking and driving in Georgia. For the victims of drunk driving, you have a right to receive compensation for your losses, and Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help you do that. Our Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer will be there for you. We will build your claim and fight to collect a fair settlement for your injuries.
Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
The Services We Provide
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we offer several services to our clients. First and foremost is communication. You will be able to ask us any questions you may have. We are here to explain any confusing legal jargon or complicated laws.
We will keep you up to date on your case with any changes. As your representative, any communication from the at-fault driver or insurance companies will be through us. We can even go over with you what to say to avoid giving any easily manipulated information.
If we chose to take your case, we will investigate your accident to obtain evidence for your claim. Our investigation will include:
- Gathering all medical and police reports
- Taking photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and property damage
- Viewing any videos if they exist
- Interviewing eyewitnesses, including any passengers, for their account of the events
- Consulting with accident reconstruction experts for their testimonies, and medical specialist regarding your prognosis
- Identifying the liable parties and their insurers
From our investigation, we will calculate your total losses. Your losses will include not only your economic losses but also your non-economic losses, those things that have no direct monetary value but affect your life, nonetheless.
We will then take the evidence we have gathered and file a claim with the insurer. We will negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement value, and if we are unsuccessful, we will pursue compensation through a lawsuit.
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Recovering Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident
Injuries in a car accident can cause traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, cuts, and bruises. In addition to physical injuries, you may face are the financial losses that accompany them. You may even have emotional and mental injuries that require attention as well.
Regardless of their severity, you have a right to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, repair costs, pain and suffering, and more.
If you have lost a loved one, you have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim for:
- Burial and funeral costs
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of support and protection
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
The Statute of Limitations in Georgia
Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 9-3-33, you only have two years to file a lawsuit with the courts. We will need that time to build your claim. Also, if we are unable to secure a fair settlement with the insurance companies, and that deadline elapses, we may not be able to collect compensation for your injuries through the courts.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today if you have suffered injuries due to the negligence of a drunk driver. An Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for the losses you have endured. Our team can give you a free case review, and we work on a contingency-fee-basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we collect a negotiated settlement or court award.
We do not want you to suffer any further for the accident injuries you have already received. You deserve this time to heal. Know that we do not shy away from tough cases. Let us help you today. Call (844) 730-0233 now.
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