Any car accident can be difficult, but when it involves a drunk driver in Canton, it can be especially tough. You may wonder if the crash would have happened if the other driver wouldn’t have been drunk—the answer is usually no. Being drunk inhibits most of your abilities to drive a vehicle, including coordination, judgment, and even your vision. Intoxicated drivers are far more likely to be the cause of a devastating crash, and that crash can change the lives of everyone involved. If you or your family member were hurt, you need to talk to a Canton drunk driving accident lawyer about your legal options.
Our lawyers understand how difficult it is to get past a drunk driving accident—emotionally, physically, and financially. We only work for victims, never for the at-fault driver or their insurance company. We want to use our over 20 years of experience to help people and families just like you who are recovering from a drunk driving accident. Give us a call at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
How can a personal injury attorney help after a drunk driving accident?
When you are involved in a drunk driving accident, you likely need to get immediate medical attention for your injuries. These accidents are often serious because these drivers do not react as quickly or as well as a sober driver. That means that accidents may occur at high speeds and are often unexpected. In those situations, you need to focus on your physical and mental recovery. A Canton drunk driving accident lawyer can take care of virtually all of your legal case on your behalf while you focus on getting back on your feet.
A lawyer will be able to help you with the following necessary tasks after your crash:
Help you consider your options.
Any legal situation is complicated, and it helps to have an experienced professional walk you through your options and weigh the pros and cons.
Investigate the incident.
In drunk driving accidents, the investigation is going to be very important. You will need to gather particular information to show that the driver was intoxicated, and your attorney can help.
Negotiate with the insurance company.
Insurance companies have extensive experience dealing with car accidents. Hopefully, you don’t. Unfortunately, an insurance adjuster may use that experience against you in some situations. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and help you get a fair settlement.
Present your case at trial.
If your insurance company is unwilling to provide you a settlement that meets your needs, your lawyer will help you get your case ready for trial. Your attorney knows the ins and outs of the courtroom and what you need to do to prepare to present your evidence in the best way possible.
Technically speaking, you don’t need a lawyer after any personal injury case. But, you significantly increase your chances of getting a fair settlement when you use a lawyer who has experience with drunk driving accident cases in Georgia. When you go it alone, you may not end up recovering anything for your significant losses because of simple mistakes that an experienced lawyer wouldn’t have made.
How can I prove that the driver was drunk?
While the police will often gather hard evidence, there are also signs you can look for—or that witnesses may have seen. If the driver was doing any of the following, it’s a good sign that they may have been drunk:
- “Drifting” or having trouble staying in their lane
- Crossing the yellow center line or repeatedly drives on the rumble strips on the side of the road
- Going too fast or too slow for the road conditions
- Not using their headlights at night or in low visibility conditions
- Having trouble keeping a constant rate of speed
- Ignoring traffic signals or signs
- Failing to use turning signals, especially when switching lanes
After the accident occurs, you can often tell that a driver is drunk because they exhibit visible signs and symptoms, including:
- Slurred speech
- Trouble focusing
- Red or glassy eyes
- Problems with balance or coordination
A police officer may ask the driver to go through field sobriety tests after an accident. Testing a driver’s blood alcohol content after a crash has also become routine. Either of these will provide hard proof that you can use in your lawsuit if needed.
Keep in mind that a driver who is drunk doesn’t necessarily have to have a blood alcohol content above the legal limit to be legally responsible for your injuries and damages. Sometimes even just a small amount of alcohol can inhibit a person enough to cause a crash.
How are a driver’s abilities inhibited when they’re drunk—and how does it affect my case?
Drugs and alcohol have a profound effect on some of the vital abilities that you need to maintain control of your vehicle. This, in turn, affects how likely they are to be at fault for the accident—and, thus, legally liable.
Alcohol affects the following essential functions:
- Reaction time. Generally, reflexes are slowed when a driver is drunk. They often focus too long on an object, which decreases their ability to react to other things that are happening around them.
- Perception. A driver’s vision and perception can be impaired when they are drunk. It makes it harder to see things like pedestrians, other cars, and traffic signs.
- Judgment. Detecting speed and distance is harder to do when you are intoxicated. When you cannot tell how far things are away from you, that makes it harder to react appropriately.
- Coordination. You must have good hand-eye coordination to successfully drive a vehicle. Doing more than one thing at the same time becomes very difficult when a driver is intoxicated.
- Perspective. Drunk drivers are far less likely to see things going on in their peripheral vision. They are also more likely to look straight ahead instead of scanning their surroundings to look out for hazards.
Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to problems driving. Other substances, including both illegal and prescription drugs also have some of these same effects as well. While being drunk does not 100% prove that a driver is at fault, it goes a long way toward establishing what happened.
Talk to a Canton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer for Free
You don’t have to go through this challenging experience alone. And you don’t have to talk to the insurance company on your own. Our lawyers are a valuable resource not only through your legal process but also on the road to recovery after this accident. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to schedule your free consultation today.
