If you experienced a drunk driving accident and sustained injuries in Decatur, the drunk driver could be held liable for your damages. A drunk driving accident lawyer with our firm can review your case and explain your legal options for receiving compensation from the at-fault party.
The personal injury attorneys and staff at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers will dedicate themselves to working for the compensation you deserve.
Types of Damages You Might Recover
Every motor vehicle accident is different in terms of resulting injuries and the consequences—financial and otherwise—of those injuries. In legal terms, the compensation you seek for these losses is referred to as “damages.”
If you suffered an injury in a drunk-driving accident, your damages depend on the nature and extent of your injuries and all the ways they have resulted in personal loss. Examples of just some of the types of damages you might seek in your drunk driving accident case include:
- Fees from doctors and surgeons (past and future)
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy or physical rehabilitation
- Lost income and benefits
- Replacement services (lawn maintenance, childcare, etc.)
- Home modifications
- Mobility devices (wheelchair, crutches, etc.)
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional stress
Wrongful Death
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, all too often, drunk driving accidents can prove fatal. If you lost a loved one in an accident where the driver was under the influence of alcohol, you might consider pursuing a wrongful death action. A lawyer from our firm can help you with this effort.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Decatur, call (404) 888-8888
Does a DWI Automatically Mean You Will Receive Compensation?
Georgia’s personal injury laws, which dictate the terms under which an injured person can collect damages from another individual, assign a concept of “duty of care.” This means that a case must meet the following criteria before a court would consider awarding damages to the plaintiff (victim):
- Duty of care: The defendant (in your case, the drunk driver) owed the plaintiff (you) a duty to act in a way that would protect you from harm.
- Breach of duty: The defendant violated their duty of care (in your case, by driving while intoxicated).
- Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty caused you to suffer injury.
- Damages: Your injury caused you to sustain losses.
Decatur Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
How We Will Establish Negligence
When you hire our car accident lawyers, we will investigate the circumstances of your Decatur drunk-driving accident to establish the elements of “breach of duty” and “causation.” We will begin building your case by:
- Visiting the scene of the crash to collect evidence
- Interviewing witnesses
- Getting the police accident report
- Reviewing footage from traffic signal cameras and/or nearby surveillance cameras
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety explains Georgia’s driving under the influence (DUI) laws. If the drunk driver who caused your accident was charged and went to trial for their offense, we will also obtain the evidence and court rulings from that trial, along with any possible prior DUI arrest records.
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Painting a Complete Picture of Your Damages
Quite often, victims of drunk driving accidents do not comprehend the full scope of damages to which they might be entitled. These individuals often enthusiastically accept whatever settlement the drunk driver’s insurance company offers—grateful to have a few medical bills covered and intimidated by the prospect of pressing for more compensation.
Sadly, these accident victims leave a good deal of compensation on the table, and they likely will later discover the amount they received did not nearly cover their losses.
Level the Playing Field
Our legal team can construct a comprehensive list of damages—and fight to recover them on your behalf. For example, we can give you insight into the strategies that an insurance company in your case might use to try to dismiss or undervalue your claim.
How We Will Prove Your Damages
To show the full extent of losses you suffered (and will later experience) as the result of your drunk driving accident in Decatur, our lawyers will:
- Gather medical records of all your accident-related injuries
- Obtain wage statements from your employer
- Consult with experts (medical, economic, occupational therapy, and psychological)
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We Handle the Insurance Company so You Do Not Have to
Our firm will construct a demand letter detailing all your damages, including past and future losses. We will send this letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company, who will likely counter with a lower settlement offer. At this point, our lawyers will begin the negotiation process, fighting to get fair compensation for your losses.
If the insurer fails to agree to a fair settlement, we will file a lawsuit in civil court and litigate on your behalf. Even if we file a lawsuit, your case may settle before a trial—usually during discovery and other pretrial proceedings. In some cases, the case can go to trial, but the defendant chooses to settle before the trial ends.
The Clock Is Ticking
Our lawyers want you to know that in Decatur, you have only around two years from the date of your drunk driving accident in which to file a lawsuit against the drunk driver. As OCGA §9-3-33 confirms, Georgia’s statute of limitations sets this deadline for all personal injury cases.
You will want to give us plenty of time to investigate your case, calculate your damages, and work with the insurance company for a settlement. If the settlement does not happen, we will need to file your lawsuit within two years of your collision.
Work with Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you suffered an injury in a drunk driving accident, call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today.
We put our clients’ needs first. Let us fight for your compensation so you can work on recovering from your accident. Call us today at (404) 888-8888 for your free case review.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form