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Ridesharing apps have helped reduce the temptation of drunk driving, but sadly, people still choose to drive under the influence. Oftentimes, this choice leads to serious consequences, including fines, charges, and prison time for the driver and injuries, death, or heartbreak for the victim.
If you’ve been hurt in a drunk driving accident in Georgia, you deserve justice and compensation for your injuries. Working with a skilled attorney is the best way to ensure you get the consideration and respect that you deserve.
Ali Awad, from The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, is dedicated to ensuring that drunk driving victims are able to seek the compensation they need to recover from their injuries. Awad has won millions of dollars in jury awards and settlements on behalf of clients.
No matter the circumstances or obstacles, he does what it takes to give his clients the best chance of winning. Schedule a free case review with the CEO Lawyer Dalton attorney team today when you call (706) 890-0000 or contact us online.
Why You Need a Dalton Drunk Driving Attorney on Your Side
In Georgia, several hundred people die in drunk driving accidents every year, and many others are seriously injured in these senseless crashes.
The government pours significant resources into raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, and law enforcement is always on the lookout for impaired drivers.
Because the act is clearly illegal, drunk driving injury cases might seem straightforward. After all, every state has strict laws against drunk driving, and driving under the influence is a textbook example of negligence.
However, once you add an opposing attorney and insurance companies to the mix, cases can turn complex. Since people don’t always see eye-to-eye, you can’t expect to agree on a fair resolution without a bit of work.
You may also be unable to connect the act of drunk driving to accidental injuries in some cases. No matter the circumstances, an experienced drunk driving accident attorney will help you through the following services.
Reviewing Your Case
A Dalton personal injury attorney can review the specifics of your case and build a legal foundation for your claim. They’ll identify the laws that apply to your situation and conduct research by speaking with witnesses and reviewing evidence.
If there are concerns about the validity of your claim, they’ll openly discuss these with you and help you determine the best path forward.
Projecting Expenses
Damages fall into two categories: special and general. Special damages are concrete costs that you’ve already incurred as a result of the accident or that you will incur in the future.
These include hospital bills, ambulance bills, and the costs of medications, therapies, or other treatments. Special damages may also include the cost of damaged property or the expense of lost wages if you were unable to work after the accident.
General damages are harder to quantify. These damages are related to intangible concepts, like pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, or distress.
Factors like your age, your background, the severity of the accident, and its long-term effects can impact general damage calculations. Your attorney will use these factors, along with your input, to land on a reasonable figure for general damages.
Negotiating on Your Behalf
Your personal injury attorney can also negotiate with insurance companies, the at-fault party, or the at-fault party’s representation on your behalf. A proven personal injury attorney will have plenty of experience handling negotiations.
They’ll understand what tactics and approaches work best, and they’ll know how to push for your best interests while remaining reasonable and fair.
Signs That Someone Is Driving Drunk
Drunk drivers aren’t always easy to identify. Every person reacts differently to alcohol, so some people may appear in control despite consuming multiple drinks, while others may be sluggish, dazed, or drunk after consuming a small amount of alcohol.
Regardless of consumption, Georgia law is clear: the DUI blood-alcohol content (BAC) level for a driver under the age of 21 is .02, and the BAC level for a driver over the age of 21 is .08. In other words, you will receive a DUI if you’re found to have these BAC levels at a minimum while operating a vehicle.
You won’t know a person’s BAC level unless an officer pulls them over to administer a test. However, these are some common visual signs that indicate drunk driving:
- Swerving: Alcohol consumption can impair a driver’s focus and alter their perception of the road. Therefore, a drunk driver might swerve since they’re unable to easily process their surroundings.
- Sticking to the center line: Some drunk drivers hug the centerline in an effort to keep driving straight. Even if they can generally keep their vehicle going in the right direction, it could cause an accident if they get distracted or disoriented.
- Erratic movements: Since drunk drivers are often unfocused, they may compensate by driving cautiously. This could mean that they accelerate slowly, brake early, or take long periods of time to make lane changes or other maneuvers. Confident driving is safer than tentative driving, so even if drunk drivers think they’re being cautious by altering their pace, they aren’t doing anyone any favors. No matter how drunk drivers navigate the road, they’re always a threat to other travelers.
- Tailgating: Inebriated drivers might tailgate other cars in an effort to stay out of harm’s way. If a driver rides your tail and does not pass you, even if you slow down and there are plenty of opportunities for them to move ahead, they might be driving under the influence.
- Disregard of road rules: In extreme cases, drivers are too far gone to even follow basic road rules, like turning on headlights, using signals, stopping at lights and signs, and yielding to other traffic. If you see someone who is blatantly disregarding the rules of the road and driving dangerously, you should pull over and call 911. Try to get details about the car and its location so that you can quickly lead officers to the scene.
How Does an Officer Verify That Someone Is Driving Drunk?
Law enforcement officers use several tests to tell if a person is driving under the influence of alcohol.
Walk and Turn Around Test
In this test, the officer asks the driver to simply walk forward for nine steps, turn around, and walk back toward the officer. The officer watches the person to see if they can follow instructions, complete the test as described, and balance without needing to use their arms.
Struggling to focus and lacking balance are both signs of alcohol consumption.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
People may struggle to follow an object with their eyes after having too much to drink. In this test, a law enforcement officer will hold up an object and ask the driver to follow the object with their gaze.
If their eyes jerk back and forth during the test, they may be intoxicated.
Standing Test
An officer may also have the driver try to stand on one leg. If they’re drunk, they might struggle to stay upright or to maintain balance without outside assistance.
What You Should Know About Filing a Drunk Driving Personal Injury Claim in Georgia
Drunk driving accident victims should be aware that Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims and drunk driving lawsuits.
In other words, if you want to initiate legal action against a drunk driver, you must do so within two years of the accident happening. The only exception is for drivers who are also facing criminal prosecution.
In this case, the statute of limitations is paused for up to six years and does not start again until the criminal case is complete or six years have passed.
No matter the situation, it’s important to act fast after a drunk driving incident. Over time, you may lose evidence, forget key details, or simply move on with life and lose the chance to get the compensation you deserve.
It may also be harder for your attorney to track down witnesses or prove key facts that bolster your case.
Starting early allows you to have plenty of time to pursue the case within the statute of limitations. Your attorney will also appreciate the extra time since they’ll have some leeway to gather documents, speak with witnesses, and build the strongest possible case against the drunk driver.
Hire a Dalton Drunk Driving Law Firm That Wants to Fight for You
Drunk driving kills and injures Georgians every single year.
If you fall victim to a drunk driver’s negligence, Ali Awad from The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm will do everything in his power to get the compensation you deserve. With a success rate of 99.5 percent, Awad is an attorney you can trust to handle even the most complex cases.
He has won tens of millions of dollars on behalf of his personal injury clients, and he works on a contingency basis — meaning he doesn’t get any compensation unless you do. If you’re ready to discuss your case with a law firm you can trust, call the CEO Lawyer today at (706) 890-0000 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.