Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Recovering Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident

According to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, in 2012 alone, over 300 individuals were killed by a drunk driver. This number does not reflect the people who suffered injuries as a result of drunk driving. If you were injured or a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, you may have many questions. You may wonder how you’ll afford funeral expenses and how your family will make ends meet without a steady source of income. Sure, there may be a criminal case against the person who made your life difficult, but the criminal case won’t lead to compensation for your injuries. How will you pay for your medical bills, car damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other expenses? The law affords families the right to seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills, and financial hardship you and your family may face due to the loss of the loved one. Seeking the counsel of an attorney can be you and your family’s first step to getting the compensation you deserve.

Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer Bernard Hoppenfeld helps victims of drunk driving accidents bring personal injury lawsuits against drunk drivers and any other liable parties. Since 1993, he has dedicated his practice to representing victims of serious accidents.

Punitive Damages: Holding the Drunk Driver Fully Responsible

Unlike other car accident cases, a jury can choose to award punitive damages in a drunk driving case. This means it is possible to ask for money that punishes the driver for his or her bad decisions — money above and beyond the financial compensation you would receive for your injuries. Compensatory damages will only reimburse you and your family for your losses as a result of an accident. Compensatory damages will help you pay for medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This money is paid to help restore you to the financial state you and your family would have enjoyed had you not suffered an accident. Punitive damages allow you to seek money above and beyond mere compensation.

In order to get punitive damages, you must go through two separate trials: a trial to determine negligence/liability and a trial for punitive damages. During the first trial, we will fight to recover full and fair compensation for your injuries and ask the jury to declare that you are entitled to punitive damages. Research has shown that as many as 77 percent of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes with a blood alcohol level above 0.15 are repeat offenders. This means that these drivers, despite being punished in the past for this crime, chose to repeat the offense, knowing the risks and dangers drunk driving poses. If the drunk driver who killed or injured your loved one was a repeat offender, your chances of seeking and receiving punitive damages increases. Then, we will do everything we can to obtain a financial award that adequately punishes the drunk driver in a second trial.

Georgia Dram Shop Liability

In Georgia, any bar, restaurant or other establishment serving liquor must refuse alcohol to anyone who is visibly intoxicated. If it does not do so, the establishment may be liable for the injuries that person causes as a result of intoxication. This is called “dram shop liability” and it may be relevant to your case. We will investigate your drunk driving accident case to determine whether the drunk driver visited a bar, restaurant, or other locale that evening and whether that establishment is liable under Georgia’s dram shop laws.

Was Your Loved One Killed by a Drunk Driver?

Buckhead, Atlanta, Bernard Hoppenfeld is a compassionate wrongful death lawyer who is not afraid to bring your case to trial. Hoppenfeld fights diligently to make sure that you receive the maximum compensation allowable under the law. If your loved one was killed by a drunk driver, you deserve answers; we will help you find them.

Small Law Firm ▪ Big Impact

At Bernard Hoppenfeld, Attorney at Law, you will not only find an experienced Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer; you will also find a lawyer who will take the time to listen to you and who will answer your questions. He is available to take your calls and will keep you informed during every step of the process.

Are you the victim of an accident? Turn to our law firm for legal action that gets the best possible results. To schedule a free initial consultation with our Atlanta law office, contact us online or by calling 404-261-7400.