Georgia DUI Accident Settlements
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 32,885 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents. In 2005, 254,000 persons were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present, which works out to about one injured person every 2 minutes due to an alcohol-related traffic incident. Dealing with a personal injury or the injury or death of a loved one can be troubling and challenging. On top of shouldering the pain, grief, and loss of vitality caused by an injury or wrongful death, there are the financial burdens of lost wages, damaged vehicles, medical bills, and in the worst cases, funeral expenses. And all of a sudden the insurance company wants to settle. Believe us, we know what you’re going through.
At George C. Creal Jr. P.C. Trial Attorneys we’ve been defending Georgia DUI arrests and pursuing personal injury and wrongful death claims for 20 years. While no monetary settlement can ever truly make up for an injury or wrongful death, we can help ease the financial burdens of such unfortunate incidents. If you or someone you know has been injured in a alcohol-related traffic accident, contact our firm today at (404) 333 0706, [email protected], or our Quick Contact Form.
We Have the Expert Experient to Get You the Settlement You Deserve
We never settle when it comes to settlements. Since our firm has 20 years of experience defending DUI charges and pursuing personal injury claims in Georgia, we’re familiar with each side of the battle. Whether it’s adopting the tactics of a county solicitor or reading the motive of an insurance company, we know how to pursue your alcohol-related accident claim in order to get the settlement or punitive damages you deserve. By definition, it is the job of insurance companies to limit the amount of benefits that they provide – it is the nature of their job. On the other hand, it’s our job to make sure that insurance companies fess to the full damage of the claim, whether it’s future medical care, lost wages, transportation costs, compensation for pain and suffering, or other damages. We do that by using the reverse-side of our expertise in DUI Defense and exhibiting how alcohol was a determining factor in the cause and escalation in the alcohol-related accident.
Does My Case Warrant Punitive Damages? O.C.G.A. 51-12-5.1
As stated in the subsection of the Georgia statute: “Punitive damages shall be awarded not as compensation to a plaintiff but solely to punish, penalize, or deter a defendant” and “may be awarded only in such tort actions in which it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences.” Though it is not a given, if it can be proven that a person in an alcohol-related accident was DUI, their claim may be eligible for an award of punitive damages up to $250,000. A jury decides the amount of punitive damages awarded.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a alcohol-related accident or incident, it is essential to hire a professional, accomplished attorney to ensure that you get the settlement and protection you deserve. Contact us at (404) 333-0706, [email protected], or go send us a Quick Contact Form for a free case evaluation or to set up a free consultation.