Drunk driving accounts for the highest number of crashes in the United States. About 28 people die due to drunk driving crashes every day, which explains how fatal these kinds of accidents can be.
You deserve compensation for the damages incurred in a drunk driving accident. The possibility of getting the compensation you deserve depends on your legal input and experience. Our Newnan car accident attorney from John Foy & Associates can help you fight for your compensation.
What Evidence do You Need for a Drunk Driving Accident Compensation Claim?
It’s important to understand that any legal action you bring to a drunk driving crashes victim is different from the criminal actions brought against the drunk driver by the state. Therefore, you should establish that the driver was drunk and their condition caused an accident that affected you. Here are unique pieces of evidence that might work in your drunk driving accident claim:
Police Report
The police officers who responded to the accident should have a report containing information that supports your claim. These reports usually refer to the person responsible for causing the accident and the cause of the accident.
BAC Test Result
When a traffic patrol officer suspects a driver involved in an accident of being intoxicated, they might order a BAC test. The BAC test shows the driver’s intoxication to a specific scientific accuracy, and you can establish that the driver was drunk driving based on their BAC results.
Courtroom Evidence
Courtroom evidence refers to any evidence presented in court during a drunk driving case. For instance, you can use an eyewitness report in the criminal case filed against the driver to reinforce your claim.
Conviction
If a criminal court convicted the driver of drunk driving, they are guilty. You can use the judgment to persuade the court that the driver was intoxicated in your civil court case.
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What Kind of Damages Can You Recover from a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?
You can pursue compensatory damage, punitive damages, or wrongful damages in a drunk driving accident claim.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages refer to any monetary compensation a person can seek in a drunk driving accident claim. These damages can be economical or non-economical.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to damages that have a financial value and can be calculated. This includes all medical-related costs that you’ve endured due to the injuries sustained in a drunk driving accident. You can seek compensation for ongoing medical expenses and expenses incurred as your future medical expenses. Typically, you can recover the following costs as your medical damages:
- Hospital bills
- Family physician bills
- Laboratory fees
- Physical therapy bills
- The cost of prescription medication
- Surgery cost
Another example of economic damage is lost wages. This refers to all financial losses associated with missing work due to the injuries suffered from a drunk driving accident. This includes:
- Your total hourly wages beginning from the first day you missed work until when you resumed
- Overtime wages, depending on whether you work overtime regularly
- Bonuses
- Sick day compensation
- Vacation bonuses
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to damages without a financial value. Common non-economic damages include pain and suffering and loss of consortium.
Pain and suffering refer to any form of discomfort and emotional distress associated with an accident. It refers to the following:
- Anguish
- Discomfort
- Inconvenience
- Emotional trauma
Loss of consortium refers to any form of deprivation that affects a family relationship, including sexual relations and affection, due to injuries caused by an accident.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a form of damages imposed on the at-fault party for causing an accident through negligence. They are usually awarded when the driver causes an accident due to actions that show malicious intent or disregard for human life. Drunk driving fits as an action that shows significant recklessness and disregard for human life. Therefore, you can seek punitive damages in your compensation claim.
Wrongful Death
A wrongful death claim refers to a claim made against an at-fault party for causing the death of a loved one. In this case, you will be making this claim if your loved one dies due to drunk driving. You can recover damages like medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium.
How a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Newnan Can Help Your Claim
A Newnan drunk driving accident attorney can help you in your drunk driving accident claim more than you can imagine. Remember that you must meet many factors to guarantee a successful claim process. Here are various ways that our attorney can help you:
- Investigating, reviewing police reports, gathering eyewitness reports, and medical records
- Demonstrating the circumstances of the crash through the help of an expert witness
- Communicating with the at-fault party insurance company adjusters
- Communicating with the defendant’s lawyers
- Representing you in court
- Keeping you up-to-date with the entire process and addressing any questions you might have
Please note that some cases can be more complicated to investigate, such as cases involving rideshare companies, public transportation, and commercial trucks. That’s why you should retain the help of an attorney to increase your chances of fair compensation.
Get Help from a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Newnan Today
Getting compensated in a drunk driving case seems obvious. After all, it’s easy to prove that a driver was drunk and might have caused an accident you were involved in. However, this is not always the case. It is essential to hire a drunk driving accident attorney to maximize your chances for compensation.
A Newnan drunk driving accident lawyer is ready to help you if you’re hurt in a drunk driving-related accident. We will work with you to ensure that you’re adequately compensated for the damages sustained in your accident. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form