Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
The state of Georgia imposes strict laws that make driving under the influence of alcohol illegal. These laws are for the safety of all road users. When someone fails to follow these laws and hurts other people, the drunk driver must be held responsible for their reckless acts.
From 2009 to 2018, 3,214 individuals were killed in drunk driving accidents in Georgia. Unfortunately, a lot of drunk drivers flee the accident scene to avoid getting charged. But even those that the police have managed to locate might sometimes avoid serious penalties while their injured victims are left to suffer serious or life-altering injuries.
The experienced Alpharetta drunk driving accidents lawyers of Spaulding Injury Law are ready to lend a hand if you suffer injuries or if a loved one was killed in a Georgia drunk driving accident.
How Drunk Driving Leads to Devastating Crashes and Injuries
Numerous studies have found that excessive alcohol intake prevents drivers from safely operating a motor vehicle. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows down reaction times, and could even make drivers fall asleep while driving. Some drunk drivers likewise tend to engage in reckless and aggressive driving tactics, which is especially hazardous when their reflexes are already impaired. Drunk driving accidents typically involve these types of auto crashes:
- Sideswipe Collisions – Drunk drivers could knowingly or unknowingly switch lanes without signaling nearby drivers, and could sideswipe other vehicles.
- Rear-End Crashes – Tailgating (driving too close to the vehicle in front) and speeding are common examples of reckless driving behaviors that could cause rear-end collisions. Even if drunk drivers are not tailgating or speeding, they have slower reaction times and could lose focus on what’s happening around them, which could prevent them from stopping or slowing down on time to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of them.
- Rollovers – Drunk drivers could lose control of the vehicle, swerve too aggressively, or hit an object on the road, causing a rollover accident. Unfortunately, some rollover accidents could result in a chain reach accident that could involve innocent road users.
- Head-On Crashes – Because of the negative effects of alcohol, drunk drivers are also known to enter one-way roadways and strike other vehicles head-on, leaving innocent drivers no time to prevent the accident. This also happens in two-way streets where drunk drivers suddenly leave their designated lanes and crash head-on with another vehicle.
Regardless of the specific kind of auto accident, a DUI accident has the potential to cause serious damage. In the worst cases, the victims’ lives (and the lives of their families) could be changed forever, if they even manage to survive the accident. This is why our Alpharetta drunk driving lawyers are dedicated to protecting our injured clients’ rights and aggressively seek monetary compensation that is commensurate to their accident-related damages.
How a Drunk Driving Accident Could Change Victims’ Lives Forever
It’s unfair how some drunk driving accidents could alter victims’ lives forever, but leave drunk drivers with some minor injuries or completely unscathed. Meanwhile, injured victims might spend weeks to months in the hospital, undergo multiple surgeries and other treatments, spend years in rehab, or even require home care and medical treatments for life. And these medical-related costs could be immensely expensive.
Likewise, a lot of seriously injured victims can’t go back to work right away, if at all. If you end up with permanent injuries, you might not be able to perform your previous job duties or continue working at all. For instance, if your spinal cord gets injured in the accident and results in paralysis, you obviously can’t go back to work if your previous job involves physical activity or labor. All other physically taxing jobs are likewise off the table.
Apart from causing insurmountable medical expenses and negatively affecting your livelihood, severe injuries could likewise negatively impact your personal life and relationships. You might be incapable of engaging in recreational, leisure, and social activities you once regularly engaged in. You might even require help with basic tasks like eating, dressing up, bathing, etc. These drastic changes could lead to reducing your quality of life, besides all the physical and mental pain and suffering you’re already facing.
On the flip side, not all drunk driving accidents lead to life-changing injuries and consequences. Some fortunate victims only suffer minor to moderate injuries. However, even these injuries could result in costly medical expenses and lost earnings, and these damages must likewise be fairly compensated.
Who’s Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?
- The Drunk Driver – Obviously, the drunk driver must be held financially liable for the damages their actions caused. In this case, compensation will usually come from the driver’s insurance provider.
- The Employer of the Drunk Driver – Employers may be held vicariously liable for their employee’s actions during the course of the employees’ employment. But this will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident.
- A Bar or Social Host – A social host (like someone who throws a party) or any establishment that served the drunk driver alcohol and permitted the person to drive after getting drunk might likewise be held responsible for the DUI accident under Georgia dram shop laws. It’s crucial to note, however, that if the at-fault driver went to different establishments before the accident, then it could be challenging to figure out which establishment could be held liable for the accident.
Parents of minor individuals may also be held responsible for a drunk driving accident, depending on the particular circumstances of the case.
Learn How Our Top Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help
The reckless actions of a drunk driver could change your entire life in a millisecond. If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, get in touch with the experienced personal injury lawyers at Spaulding Injury Law today. You can trust that our top Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers will do everything they can to ensure that the drunk driver who hurt you is held fully responsible and pays for all the losses you’ve incurred in the DUI accident.
You can fill out our online form or call us at 470 509-5772 to schedule your free case consultation with one of our experienced Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers today. Alpharetta Personal Injury Lawyers is located at 44 Milton Ave #132, Alpharetta, GA 30009, United States.
