Under Georgia law, if you have been in an accident involving a DUI driver, you can recover for your losses, including medical bills, auto repair bills, lost wages from missing work, property damage, and even punitive damages. After any accident, but especially one with a DUI driver, you want to take some immediate steps:
- Always call and report the accident to your local police department. If you suspect someone of driving while impaired, do not let them convince you into simply swapping insurance information, or even taking case, in exchange for letting them drive off. Often times, if someone is DUI, they will attempt to flee the scene or otherwise settle up without the cops being involved, and for obvious reason.
- Don't refuse medical treatment if you need it! This may seem obvious, but we see a lot of situations where injured people deny medical care at the scene, only to be in severe pain the next day, when they end up going to the ER. When you call 911, let the operator know you need medical care too. If you have waited, again, don't keep procrastinating. Get initial treatment, and see what a Doctor suggests you do from there. If payment of medical bills is preventing you from seeking treatment, do not worry. We will work with you and on your behalf to get coverage through insurance.
- As soon as possible, write down a detailed narrative of what happened in your accident, including as much information as possible. If the other driver made any statements, make sure you write those down verbatim. Keep a journal if you do have follow up conversation with anyone, especially medical providers.
- Do not speak to insurance, other than the initial report of the accident until you have hired a lawyer! Insurance adjusters will try early and often to get a recorded statement that they can later use against you. Don't fall for it. Let us guide you through this process.
- Put yourself and your treatment first, and let us handle all the legal issues. Often, it is natural to want to stay involved in each and every decision of your case, and get a daily report, so to speak. While you should absolutely stay informed, do not stress yourself with the daily progress of your case. Trust your attorney, and follow their advice.
At Zeliff | Watson, our attorneys have over 20 combined years of courtroom experience and have been in just about every courthouse in North Georgia. Our attorneys know the ins and outs of all aspects of litigation, including what first steps you need to take, obtaining evidence and expert opinions, dealing with insurance companies and their adjusters and attorneys, and preparing for trial. We have a network of industry professionals and fellow attorneys that we work with on a regular basis to handle auto accidents, and DUI accidents.
If you have been involved in an accident with a DUI driver, give us a call today at (404) 590-6642, or email Partner Evan Watson at evan@zwdefense.com, and we will gladly review the facts of your case. We can be reached 24/7/365.