Many of the accidents that happen each year in and around Atlanta, Georgia happen because of drunk or drugged driving.
So what is a victim of this kind of accident supposed to do?
How is the negligent party responsible to pay for the damages that can occur as a result?
Those damages can be far-reaching, including lost wages, hospital bills, pain, suffering, and more.
If you have been involved in an accident with a drunk or drugged driver, contact a Toccoa truck accident lawyer right away.
These and other questions are on the minds of several Lumpkin County residents after an alleged drugged driver recently crashed into a popular restaurant, injuring several people and causing a chain reaction that made nine cars crash into each other.
The police quickly arrived on the scene and began investigating what happened and what caused the pileup and injuries.
What happened, in this case, is what happens in a lot of the cases involving car accidents.
Once the police investigated the cause, they determined that the man who began the chain of events and ran into the restaurant was driving under the influence of drugs.
As a result, he was charged with DUI, but now the victims of this alleged crime are left wondering what their options are.
What to do After a DUI Accident According to a Personal Injury Attorney in Atlanta
Under the law in Georgia, victims of accidents have rights.
Some of those rights include the right to demand that the person, company, or organization who caused an accident pay for the damages caused.
The standard that the victim must prove in most cases is that the person who caused the accident or injury was negligent when they caused the accident.
This can be difficult to prove at times, but in certain cases, it is made easier.
Sometimes it is not at all difficult to prove that a person was acting negligently when he or she caused an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
When a person decides to get behind the wheel and drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, that is very nearly the definition of acting negligently. In fact, in legal terms, it is referred to as negligence per se.
In cases in which the driver who caused the accident is accused of DUI, it is not difficult to prove the case.
The victim should make a claim against both the driver and his or her insurance company for all the damages caused.
Cases like this are more likely to settle because of how clear it is that the drunk or drugged driver is at fault.
Negligence Defined by a Personal Injury Attorney Serving Atlanta
Lawyers and laypeople have different ideas about what negligence means.
Most people think that negligence involves some element of intent, but legally speaking, it does not.
Under the law negligence has four elements:
- Duty;
- Breach;
- Causation;
- Harm.
It is that simple.
It means that a person had a duty to act reasonably, breached that duty, and caused harm to a victim.
When that happens, such as in the case of a DUI, the person who acted negligently must pay the victim for the harm caused.
Before anyone can make an exact determination of who is negligent, he or she must contact a qualified Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
If you are the victim of an accident from a DUI driver or other negligent party, contact a personal injury attorney at The Angell Law Firm.
Our truck accident lawyers will give your case the attention it deserves, and help you take the next steps you need to recover from your injuries.
Contact us today.
Bryce is considered a highly esteemed trial lawyer and a passionate client advocate amongst his peers in the Atlanta legal community. Never afraid to go the extra mile for his clients, Bryce Angell works tirelessly to ensure that each client’s personal injury case gets the attention that it deserves.