Van Sant Law has represented Georgia injury victims since 2008. Our Union City drunk driving accident attorneys bring decades of combined experience to car accident claims.
We know how insurance companies evaluate injury claims, how they look for ways to reduce payouts, and how to build a claim that reflects the full harm done. If you were hit by an impaired driver, we can investigate the crash, deal with the insurer, and pursue every available source of compensation.
Contact Van Sant Law for a free consultation and let our Union City car accident lawyers help you Make the Right Call.
Drunk Driving Accident Cases We Handle
Our firm represents injured people and families in a wide range of impaired driving claims, including:
- Serious injury DUI crashes.
- Fatal drunk driving collisions.
- Rear-end, head-on, and intersection crashes.
- Pedestrian and bicycle injuries.
- Motorcycle crashes.
- Rideshare and delivery driver collisions.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
- Claims involving bars, restaurants, or other alcohol providers.
When a drunk driver causes harm, our Union City personal injury lawyers move quickly to identify insurance coverage, secure records, and determine whether additional parties may share legal responsibility.
What Makes a DUI Accident Claim Different
A drunk driving injury claim is a civil claim for compensation. It is separate from the criminal DUI case brought by the State of Georgia.
The Criminal Case Does Not Pay Your Losses
A DUI arrest may lead to fines, probation, license consequences, or jail time for the impaired driver. Those penalties do not cover your medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, or pain. To recover those losses, you usually need a civil insurance claim or lawsuit.
A Conviction Is Helpful, But Not Always Required
A DUI conviction can be strong evidence, but a civil claim may still move forward even if the driver is not convicted. The civil case focuses on whether the driver’s conduct caused your injuries and damages. Evidence from the crash scene, officer observations, test results, witness statements, and medical records may all play a role.
Punitive Damages May Be Available
Georgia law allows punitive damages in some cases involving willful misconduct, wantonness, or conscious indifference to consequences.
Drunk driving can support a claim for punitive damages when the evidence shows the driver was impaired and chose to drive anyway. These damages are meant to punish and deter, not to repay medical bills.
Who May Be Liable After a Drunk Driving Crash
The impaired driver is usually the first party we examine, but not always the only one. At Van Sant Law, we look beyond the obvious defendant to find every possible avenue of recovery.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The drunk driver.
- The owner of the vehicle, in some situations.
- An employer, if the driver was working at the time.
- A rideshare, delivery, or commercial company, depending on the facts.
- A bar, restaurant, or alcohol provider in limited Georgia dram shop claims.
- An uninsured or underinsured motorist carrier.
Keep in mind that a business or person who served alcohol may be liable only in specific situations, such as knowingly serving someone who was noticeably intoxicated while knowing that person would soon drive, or unlawfully serving a minor while knowing the minor would soon drive.
Potential Compensation For Drunk Driving Accident Claims
A drunk driving case should account for the full harm caused by the collision. Our Union City drunk driving accident lawyers look at how the crash changed your medical needs, work, mobility, family responsibilities, and future plans.
Depending on your case, compensation could cover the following losses and costs:
- Emergency care and hospital bills
- Surgery, imaging, medication, and follow-up visits
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Punitive damages, when supported by the facts
In fatal drunk driving cases, Georgia law may allow a wrongful death claim for the full value of the life of the person who died.
A separate estate claim may also seek certain expenses and losses tied to the injury and death, such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, and conscious pain and suffering before death.
Georgia Deadlines for Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Georgia generally gives injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims are also generally subject to a two-year deadline, usually measured from the date of death.
Some cases involve additional timing issues, including uninsured motorist claims, claims against government entities, or civil claims connected to an open criminal case.
Do not wait for the criminal DUI case to end before asking about your civil rights. Early legal action can help preserve evidence and protect filing deadlines.
How Van Sant Law Can Help
Van Sant Law is a Georgia personal injury firm with the insurance knowledge needed to handle serious crash claims. Founding attorney David M. Van Sant previously served as defense counsel for a large insurance firm, giving our team insight into how insurers evaluate claims, defend payouts, and try to reduce exposure.
We can help by:
- Investigating how the crash happened.
- Obtaining crash reports, DUI records, and available video.
- Reviewing insurance coverage.
- Identifying all potentially liable parties.
- Documenting medical bills, lost income, and future losses.
- Handling insurer communications.
- Preparing settlement demands.
- Filing suit when the insurer refuses to pay fairly.
We are fully equipped to sign your case electronically, and you do not need an in-person meeting to begin.
If you prefer an in-home visit, we are happy to discuss that option. We can also connect you with resources that may help with medical or financial pressure during the claim.
Speak With a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Union City
Van Sant Law helps Georgia injury victims and families pursue compensation after serious DUI crashes. If you were hurt, contact us today for a free consultation with a drunk driving accident attorney in Union City.
