Drunk driving accidents happen too often in Cartersville—and they make up about a third of all auto accident deaths in Georgia. Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense, and it can leave the victims with severe injuries, vehicle damage, medical bills, and even death.
If you or a loved one were injured in a drunk driving accident, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime for someone’s else’s choice to get behind the wheel with alcohol or drugs in their system. You need legal representation to make sure you get paid what’s needed to cover all your expenses. That means it’s time to call a Cartersville drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible.
At John Foy & Associates, our lawyers can help. For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping DUI accident victims pursue the financial recovery they need to make up for their expenses and everything they’ve suffered. Don’t wait to get started—call us today!
We’ll give you a FREE consultation, plus working with us is risk-free: we don’t get paid unless we win you money. For your free consultation to look over your case, call us today at 404-400-4000, or complete the form to your right to get started.
How do I Prove the Driver Was Drunk?
In Cartersville and the rest of Georgia, a driver can be considered drunk if they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs (or a combination of both). Drugs can include illegal ones like heroin, marijuana, or cocaine, but even the use of over-the-counter and prescription medications can be considered a DUI if it impairs one’s ability to drive.
If you believe the driver was drunk or impaired in any way, you’ll want to tell authorities and also get as much evidence as you can:
Tell Police You Believe the Driver Is Impaired
After calling the police to report the accident (which you required by law to do if there is an injury), officers will come to the scene. As long as you’re well enough to do so, wait until officers arrive and let them know what happened. Tell them that you believe the other driver is under the influence and why you suspect them. If the driver was exhibiting strange or suspicious behavior before, during, or after the accident, describe what you saw.
Police will take things from there. They know what to look for in a drunk driver, and they will likely administer a breath test and some field sobriety tests on the driver. Breath tests can help show if the driver’s blood alcohol content is above the legal 0.08% limit. If the driver fails these tests, they could be arrested and it can be crucial evidence in your drunk driving accident claim.
Record a Video of the Driver
Also, if you can, get a video of the driver if they are acting suspiciously after the accident. A video recording can demonstrate any slurred speech, clumsiness, aggression or other actions that may show the driver is impaired. Drunk drivers will often try to destroy evidence that they were under the influence while driving. This could include throwing away containers or other items from their vehicle. If you notice this happening, try to get it on video. Visual evidence like this can be really powerful in front of the jury.
Talk to Witnesses
When a car accident happens, there are usually witnesses of some kind. If someone saw the accident happen, ask them what they saw and get their contact information. Even if they didn’t see the entire accident, they might have noticed the driver acting strangely after the accident when getting out of the car or talking to you.
Witnesses can be vital to your drunk driving accident case, and getting their information will allow your lawyer to reach out to them.
Contact a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Set up a consultation with a lawyer as soon as you can after the accident. Drunk driving cases can be complicated, and you need the right evidence and support. Plus, insurance companies hardly ever offer you what your damages are worth.
A good lawyer can ensure you’re treated fairly and that all of your costs and damages are accounted for.
Get the strong arm
Can I Still Recover Money If I Was in the Car with the Drunk Driver?
If you were a passenger in the vehicle of the drunk driver and you were injured, you are still a victim. And when the driver is at fault, they are liable for all of the victim’s damages. That means that, even as a passenger, you have a right to pursue financial recovery from the drunk driver’s insurance company.
That being said, insurance companies will do whatever they can to re-assign blame, and they could try to claim you were somehow responsible or played a part in the accident.
Since you were in the car of the driver, you might face some additional challenges when trying to get money for your costs. It’s best to consult a drunk driving accident lawyer who can compile evidence showing you were not at fault and demonstrate your damages.
Do I Have to Wait for the Drunk Driver to Be Convicted to File a Claim?
No, not at all. In fact, your best option is consulting with a lawyer as soon as you can. They may advise you to file right away, even if they want you to hold off on accepting a settlement until seeing how the criminal case against the drunk driver goes. The best course of action depends on the specifics of your case, the court process against the driver, and what damages you’re claiming.
Talk to a Cartersville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer for Free
A drunk driving accident can leave you with a lot of medical bills, and emotions, surrounding your injuries and costs. Don’t let someone get away with putting you at a disadvantage because they chose to drink and drive.
Our attorneys at John Foy & Associates are here to help. For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping drunk driving accident victims get the money they need to pay their medical bills and move on from the incident.
We’d like to give you a FREE consultation to talk about your own case and how we can help. For your free consultation, call us at 404-400-4000, or fill out the form to your right today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
