Holding Drunk Drivers Responsible

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law, and for good reason. When drivers are not in full control of their faculties, they have the potential to cause dangerous accidents. Many victims who are hit by drunk drivers face catastrophic injuries, leading to thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, property damage repair, and more.

If you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, you need experienced legal representation. Drunk driving accidents can change your life in an instant, and you deserve to seek compensation for your injuries. Our law firm is here to support your case and fight for your rights until you recover a full and fair settlement.

Meeks Impact Law has been serving clients in Cumming for years. We are confident that we can help you after a negligent accident. For more information, contact our law office by calling 678-341-5212.

Drunk driving accidents have the potential to cause devastating injuries. Many victims suffer from long-lasting symptoms, and some victims even develop permanent disabilities. If you’ve been injured in any way, you need an injury attorney on your side.

The most common injuries after a drunk driving accident include:

Back Injuries

The intense impact of a car accident can cause damage to the back and neck. Back injuries can cause chronic pain, tingling, and numbness that may require surgery.

Whiplash

Being hit by a car often causes the head to whip forward and backward. This impact can cause whiplash, which is damage to the neck. Whiplash can cause long-lasting symptoms, including pain, soreness, and bruising.

Head Injuries

If you hit your head during a car accident, it’s very likely you’ll develop a head or brain injury. Head and brain injuries are difficult to treat, especially concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Damage to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons can develop after car accidents. Even these minor injuries can take weeks or months to heal and could require physical therapy.

Internal Injuries

Damage to the internal organs can cause many complications. Some victims don’t notice their internal damage until hours or days after the accident, leading to longer healing times and more medical care.

Broken Bones

Depending on where you are hit, you may break your hands, feet, ankles, wrists, or extremities. Broken bones take weeks to heal in a cast, and complex breaks could require surgery or physical therapy.

When pursuing a personal injury claim, the main goal is to recover money for your financial damages. Because all drunk driving accident cases are different, there’s no easy way to calculate the amount of compensation you’ll be able to receive. However, working with an accident lawyer on our team is the best way to get a settlement that covers all of your expenses.

You may be able to receive compensation for the following:

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are used to repay any expenses you had to pay after your accident. Georgia law indicates that victims are not liable for the bills they had to pay due to a negligent accident. Compensatory damages may include:

• Medical bills – Any past and future medical bills related to your injuries, including surgeries, physical therapy appointments, medication, and more
• Lost wages – Any money you lost because of taking time off work
• Lost income – Money you lost because you are unable to complete your normal job duties after the accident
• Pain and suffering – Interference with everyday living, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress
• Disability or disfigurement – Permanent scarring or disability that changes the way you live your life

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded as a punishment to the negligent party. Not all personal injury claims are eligible for punitive damages; however, drunk driving accidents typically are. Punitive damages are awarded to the victim if the defendant is found to have an extreme disregard for human life. Driving under the influence often qualifies for these types of damages.

Our legal team can use the negligent party’s driving record as proof of their repeat behavior. If a defendant already has a DUI charge or a drunk driving arrest on record, it is more likely that you will be awarded punitive damages. For more information, contact our law firm today.

Dram shop laws allow you to seek compensation from multiple liable parties – not just the drunk driver. In some cases, the driver is not the only person at fault. If the driver was supplied alcohol by a restaurant or bar, the owner or servers could be held liable.

The criteria for establishing a vendor’s liability include:

• The vendor willfully and knowingly sold alcohol to a minor under 21
• The vendor knowingly served alcohol to a person who was already intoxicated
• The vendor knew the individual would be driving a vehicle

Dram shop liability cases can quickly become complex, as many businesses have insurance coverage to protect themselves from these types of claims. If you believe you qualify for a dram shop civil lawsuit, our accident lawyer will help you collect evidence to get the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been in a drunk driving accident, it’s important to keep yourself safe and ensure you don’t have any serious injuries. Once you’ve determined that, there are a few things you can do to support your personal injury claim.

Be sure to do the following after a drunk driving accident:

• Take photos and videos. Evidence of the accident scene is essential. Use your phone to take photos of the vehicles, the accident scene, and any injuries
• Get witness information. If anyone saw the accident, get their contact information. You can use their statements later during your claim
• Call the police. A police report will help support your claim and assign liability
• Seek medical attention. Your medical records will prove the extent of your injuries and how much you paid for medical care
• Contact a personal injury attorney. The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can help you get compensation for your injuries

If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you need an accident lawyer on your side. An insurance company is unlikely to give you the payment you deserve to cover all of your expenses. Our team will fight for your rights to get you the settlement you need.

Meeks Impact Law is here to support you through this difficult situation. For more information about our services and how we can help you, call us today at 678-341-5212.