Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Atlanta, GA

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Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Atlanta, GAA drunk driving accident lawyer serving Atlanta, GA from The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch understands the devastating impact of car accidents caused by a drunk driver.  Any accident can be devastating, but when it is the result of another person’s intentional, reckless, or wrongdoing due to alcohol, the situation will be worse. Medical bills may be in the tens of thousands and working might be impossible.

The physical pain may be excruciating and the emotions you’re going through could range from confusion, anger, and stress. The fact of the situation is that you need help and as quickly as possible.  Georgia law allows you to seek more monetary damages against a drunk driver who caused your accident.

Under Georgia law, you are entitled to be made whole for your injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages.  When a drunk driver causes your accident you also get to seek punitive damages, damages to punish the other party (the drunk driver) for their terrible decision to drive under the influence of alcohol and cause your accident.

If you’re ready to get relief from the burdens of an accident caused by a drunk driver, call The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch today.  404-373-7735.

Common Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our lawyers handle a broad range of drunk driving and personal injury cases and have successfully recovered millions in damages.  We have more experience with DUI accident cases than almost all law firms in Georgia.  Attorney Andrew Lynch has specialized training in DUI cases and prior to working with DUI victims, worked in a specialized DUI Treatment Court within the DeKalb County Court System.

Car Accidents

Technology continues to make vehicles safer; however, every day in Georgia there are inevitably accidents. An error on the part of the driver is often the cause of the accident, especially if that person is driving under the influence of alcohol. An Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer at our firm is well versed in these types of accidents, the insurance companies involved, and how to maximize damages. Common car accidents caused by drunk driving cases include:

  • Hit and run accidents
  • Fatal accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Uninsured motorist claims
  • Rideshare accidents (Lyft and Uber)
  • Rear end crashes
  • Improper Lane Change wrecks

Bicycle Accidents

Riding a bicycle is increasing in metro Atlanta, but this has also increased the number of accidents. Our firm is committed to holding drunk drivers responsible for their negligent actions whenever they cause anyone a serious injury.  When a cyclist is injured the injuries are almost always severe. Once a drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia is able to prove that a drunk driver caused your bicycle to crash, we will be ready to show pursue a better outcome with the drunk driver’s insurance company whether in pre-suit settlement, mediation, or trial. Bike accident cases involve different facts, but include:

  • Sideswipe
  • Turning vehicles
  • Pulling out of a driveway
  • Lane sharing
  • Dooring
  • Wrongful death

Fighting For Your Settlement

Our team has helped many victims of DUI drivers whose actions caused them to suffer terrible injuries. Andrew has specialized knowledge of lawsuits involving drunk drivers.  Our lawyers have literally been certified in the same DUI field sobriety testing as the Police Officer who arrested the drunk driver who hit you. 

The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch focuses on acquiring substantial settlements for our clients who were injured by drunk drivers who were also under the influence at the time of the accident. Generally speaking with rare exceptions, are an expectation in these sorts of cases is to recover the entire insurance policy amount of the drunk driver.  DUI drivers are one of the exceptions to the rule that the more serious the injury, the more likely the victim will need a drunk driving lawyer accident lawyer in Atlanta to represent their best interests. All persons hit by a drunk driver should consult with a drunk driving lawyer.  Insurance companies will push back against paying out large settlements to you without a lawyer. Georgia law has special protections for those hit by a Drunk driver and increased monetary damages in these lawsuits.   Andrew Lynch understands the steps that are necessary to undertake in order to build a case against a drunk driver, find the evidence, and secure fair compensation for your damages. If you were injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, contact Attorney Andrew Lynch to request a free consultation.

Elements of a DUI Personal Injury Case

A number of criteria, referred to by lawyers as legal elements must be met in order for an injury victim to be eligible to receive a settlement from the person directly responsible for their injury. The challenges of a personal injury case are largely based on Georgia law and how it applies to the facts of your case. Success is often dependent on having a skilled lawyer representing you, the victim. At The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch, our lawyers have the experience and resources necessary for handling even the most complex of cases.  Andrew Lynch has over a decade of specialized legal knowledge and experience in the courtrooms of Georgia dealing with Georgia law as it applies to drunk drives and the damages their actions cause innocent people.

Every case is different, but the following criteria must be met:

  • A car accident occurred, and the victim’s lawyer can prove that the other driver was responsible, at fault, for causing the accident.
  • The car accident resulted in the victim sustaining a serious injury. This is usually done through the lawyer receiving a complete copy of your medical records and consulting the appropriate medical experts to support your case.
  • Additional proof, such as police reports that the other driver was DUI and caused the accident, as well as physical evidence at the accident scene, can be critical for establishing liability. The victim’s lawyer must provide proof that the other driver is liable and that there is a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the point they were not safe to drive on the roads of Georgia.
  • The victim’s lawyer must detail their client’s damages and the associated costs of each. Proof of these costs must also be provided. These damages are what is referred to as special damages, damages we can put an exact dollar amount on.   Damages such as pain and suffering are more difficult to assign values because of course there are no receipts. These damages under Georgia law are determined by the “enlightened conscience” of your jury.  This phrase basically means the amount is what your twelve jurors collectively assign to your case.   Testimony from the victim’s professional caregivers, medical providers, including psychologists, friends, and family members will be considered by the jury.
  • Finally, unlikely almost all other personal injury cases, a victim of a DUI accident may seek punitive damages without any limit against a Drunk Driver.  This simply means a jury in your case will not only consider the monetary value of what you went through but also if there should be additional monetary damages beyond what they believe your case is worth to deter the Drunk Driver from making future bad choices like the one that brought your case to court.
  • A Georgia drunk driving lawyer accident lawyer will consider the specifics of each case to determine what evidence of damages can be submitted as proof.
drunk driver infographic

Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 40 people die in drunk driving crashes each day in the United States. That comes out to one person every 40 seconds. The loss of almost 14,000 people each year is entirely preventable.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash, call our office to speak with an Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer to find out what legal options you may have.

Too Many Drunk Driving Accidents Are Caused by Intoxicated Teens

Driving under the influence of alcohol (or any intoxicating substance) significantly increases a motorist’s risk for being involved in car accidents and causing injuries. The legal standard in Georgia is did the alcohol cause the driver to be less safe than they otherwise would have been if sober.  This is particularly true for teen drivers, who are more likely to be involved in serious and potentially fatal collisions than any other age group. 

To help raise awareness of the very real dangers, Georgia police have been aggressively working on outreach efforts that focus on the consequences of drunk driving and the effects that can happen when a collision occurs. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a teen drunk driver, you’re all too aware of how life-altering such collisions can be. 

Navigating the aftermath of a drunk driving accident can be complex, particularly when the individual who caused the accident is young. You might be concerned that pursuing legal action could ruin this individual’s future. Know that civil actions (lawsuits) are different than the criminal punishment of the drunk driver. Speaking with an experienced Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer at the firm of The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch can help to clarify your rights and options. You probably can secure monetary damages regardless of whether you’re eager to hold the drunk driver criminally responsible for the harm you’ve suffered or if you are generally wary of legal action.

Teens and Drunk Driving

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that car accidents are a leading cause of death among teenagers, and the use of alcohol is one of the leading contributing causes. In roughly a quarter of all car accidents impacting those between the ages of 15 and 20, the driver had been drinking in the time period before the accident. One out of every five had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .08 blood-alcohol percent.  Georgia DUI law sets the legal limit for under 21-year-old drivers at .02 blood alcohol percent.

Alcohol abuse is a significant problem among young people, who are more inclined to engage in binge drinking than their older counterparts. Due to their age, size, and emotional development, the effects of alcohol on teenagers tend to be more exaggerated. Our firm’s Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer understands how to build a case in light of these facts. Similarly, our firm is experienced in negotiating with insurance companies in light of the knowledge that a drunk driver caused the accident in question. As you likely know, drunk driving can have the following effects on driving behavior:

  •   Decreased inhibitions, making reckless driving behaviors, such as running stop signs and racing other vehicles, more likely.
  •   Lack of concentration, causing them to be more easily distracted by passengers and electronic devices.
  •   Lack of coordination, which can impair their ability to perform basic tasks associated with driving.
  •   Poor judgment, making them more likely to go over the speed limit and to not wear seat belts.

Peer pressure is another area in which teens are at greater risk than adults. Teens are less likely to confront a friend who may have had too much to drink. They are also more inclined to just ‘go along with the crowd’, getting into the car with someone who is obviously drunk even though they know it is dangerous.

contact our Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are almost 40 people killed in drunk driving accidents every day in the United States, resulting in almost 14,000 lives lost every year. Every single one of these deaths are preventable.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, call our office to speak with one of our drunk driving accident lawyers to find out what legal recourse you may have.  

Georgia Dram Shop Liability Law

Under Georgia’s dram shop laws, if an establishment served a drunk person alcohol and that person gets in the vehicle and causes an accident, the victim can sue that establishment. The word “dram” is used to refer to a measure of alcohol. The dram shop law can apply to bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, taverns, music venues, liquor stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, or any other business that has a license to sell alcohol.

In order to be successful, a drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta, GA would need to prove the following elements:

  1.   The establishment sold alcohol to the at-fault drunk driver and the driver drank that alcohol.
  2.   The alcohol that the establishment sold to the driver caused their inebriation.
  3.   The at-fault driver was legally drunk at the time of the crash.
  4.   The victim sustained injuries as a result of that crash.
  5.   The victim has suffered economic and/or non-economic losses as a result of their injuries.

An establishment can be held liable whether the at-fault driver consumed all the alcohol that caused their intoxication at the establishment or if they came into the establishment already drunk and was still served alcohol. One of the purposes of dram shop laws is to make these business owners and their employees aware of the consequences if they overserve a customer and that customer is driving.

Georgia’s Social Host Liability Law

Georgia also allows victims to sue private citizens in third-party drunk driving claims. If the at-fault drunk driver was at someone’s home and drank alcohol to the point of being intoxicated – either alcohol the host provided or alcohol they brought to the home – and the host allowed the driver to get into their vehicle and drive away drunk, then the victim can sue that host.

Both the Georgia dram shop law and social liability law also can be applied to establishments that serve alcohol to minors.

Pursuing Damages

Third-party drunk driving lawsuits can be complex because of the elements that need to be proven in order to be successful. This is why victims should seek out the help of a skilled Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer from the Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch. Call our office to learn more.

A drunk driving accident can change your life in a major way, as a drunk driving accident lawyer who serves Atlanta, GA clients know. The consequences of an accident can be devastating, causing emotional, physical, and financial harm to the victim. Recovering from a DUI accident can take months or more, and they often result in long-term emotional trauma. If you have been injured in a DUI accident, you can rely on a lawyer like the one at Law Offices of Andrew Lynch to properly fight for you so that you can get the compensation you are entitled to.

What does a DUI accident case consist of? 

A DUI accident is made up of several elements. There are certain criteria for a case to qualify as a DUI. A lawyer needs to show that the defendant is at fault, and their actions directly caused harm to the victim. The at-fault driver should have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of over 0.08%, supported by accident investigation results in police reports. The victim must provide their list of damages and specific amounts. In special cases, a victim may decide to seek punitive damages against the at-fault driver which may be applicable. 

Why should I hire a drunk driving accident lawyer? 

There are multiple reasons why you should hire a drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta, GA. Handling this type of case on your own is not easy, and often comes with many challenges. The entire process involves filling out detailed paperwork, gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, and calculating your damages. If you do not have a legal background, these steps can be tough to do correctly and efficiently. A drunk driving accident lawyer has specific experience helping DUI accident victims so they are prepared to assist you with every element of the case. 

What is the value of my case? 

If you were injured by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to a long list of damages, which may mean a large settlement. The value of your case is dependent on a number of factors such as your injuries, missed wages, and other losses. Our lawyers will determine your case value by doing a deep investigation into your case. They will collect the facts and gather evidence to calculate what damages you are owed. They will work tirelessly to secure your fair financial compensation and that you don’t receive anything less.

What should I do if I’m hit by a drunk driver? 

If you have been struck by a drunk driver, remain calm and call for help. Stay at the scene and remain by your vehicle as you wait for first responders to arrive. If your condition permits you to, take photos of the damage to your vehicle and the surrounding scene. Capture pictures of debris, skid marks and other important things. Obtain the driver’s contact information and insurance details, and talk to any witnesses who may have seen what happened from other angles. Write down everything that you can remember about what you experienced. For more information, meet with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta, GA.

If you are in need of a drunk driving accident victims lawyer in Atlanta, GA, then you can rely on the law office of The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch to provide knowledgeable legal services. When a driver makes a careless decision or fails to adhere to the rules of the road, he or she can be held accountable for any injuries or deaths that are caused by their actions. A car accident claim is not automatically filed for the victims. Rather, it is up to the victim to take the initiative and pursue a claim as soon as possible. Yes, the insurance company might offer a fast settlement; however, rarely is this enough money to cover the full amount of damages.

An Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident victims lawyer may be able to get the maximum amount of compensation available. If you would like to know whether or not you have a case, please call the law office of The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch for a case review. 

The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch, Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

125 Clairemont Ave Suite 470, Decatur, GA 30030

Contact The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch Now for a Case Review

Accidents caused by drunk drivers are devastating events, leaving victims and their loved ones struggling to recover both physically and emotionally. If you or someone you care about is involved in this type of accident, contact an experienced Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer for help. Our firm looks forward to speaking with you… no matter how you’re feeling about the process of filing legal action in the wake of your accident.

Just like other types of car accidents, victims of drunk driving accidents can pursue damages against the drunk driver who caused the caused the crash. But what many victims may not be aware of is that victims may also be able to bring a lawsuit against the business or party that served the driver the alcohol. Georgia law allows drunk driving accident victims to sue third parties for the losses their injuries cause. An Atlanta, GA drunk driving accident lawyer can help.

You do not have to be the victim of negligence by a drunk driver. By law, if negligence caused, or partly caused an illness or injury you can recover money damages for what you have experienced. Every case is different and will require a unique approach in order to ensure all of your rights and options are protected. You should only choose the best legal representation on your side. To schedule a consultation with a GA drunk driving accident lawyer that Atlanta, call The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch today!

The aftermath of a car accident can be extensive. Not  only may you be suffering from various injuries, but you may be unable to work. Your bills may go unpaid and bill collectors might put a lot of pressure on you. A situation like this can cause enormous amounts of stress. What is important to understand is that you can ask a lawyer to help you. For more information and a case review, please call a Georgia drunk driving accident victims lawyer in Atlanta from The Law Office of The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch today.