At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys represent individuals and families throughout Georgia who have been harmed due to the reckless choices of drunk drivers. While all personal injury claims involve negligence, drunk-driving injury cases stand apart because of the willful disregard for public safety and the heightened legal and emotional stakes involved.
When someone chooses to drive while impaired, they create a level of danger that goes beyond carelessness. These cases often involve unique legal considerations, different paths to compensation, and a powerful need for justice, not just recovery.
Clear Evidence of Recklessness
In a typical personal injury claim, negligence must be proven, meaning the at-fault party failed to act with reasonable care. But in drunk-driving cases, the act of driving under the influence is inherently reckless and illegal under Georgia law.
If the driver is charged or convicted of DUI, that criminal evidence can support your civil claim.
However, even without a conviction, you may still have a strong case if the evidence shows:
- The driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeded legal limits.
- Open containers or signs of impairment were present at the scene.
- Field sobriety test results indicate intoxication.
- Witnesses observed erratic or dangerous behavior before the collision.
At Ashby Thelen Lowry, we move quickly to preserve evidence, obtain police reports, and work with experts to prove the full extent of wrongdoing.
The Potential for Punitive Damages
Unlike standard personal injury claims, drunk-driving cases may qualify for punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate for losses but to punish the offender and deter similar conduct by others.
Georgia courts may award punitive damages when the at-fault driver acted with willful misconduct or a conscious disregard for others’ safety—criteria that drunk driving clearly meets. Punitive awards can sometimes be substantial, reflecting the community’s intolerance for this reckless behavior.
Possible Third-Party Liability
Another key difference is the potential to hold others accountable, not just the impaired driver. Under Georgia’s dram shop laws, a bar, restaurant, or even a private host may share liability if they knowingly served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated or underage. That person went on to cause harm.
By identifying all responsible parties, your legal team may be able to pursue additional sources of compensation, which is significant in cases involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Emotional and Financial Fallout Is Often Greater
Drunk-driving collisions tend to result in more severe injuries because impaired drivers often speed, ignore traffic signals, or swerve into oncoming lanes.
Survivors may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord damage.
- Internal organ injuries.
- Permanent disfigurement or disability.
Families may face mounting medical bills, lost income, and overwhelming emotional trauma.
Our attorneys at Ashby Thelen Lowry are committed to helping victims and families navigate the full impact of drunk-driving injuries with care, clarity, and relentless advocacy.
Contact Ashby Thelen Lowry for Drunk-Driving Injury Representation
If an impaired driver in Georgia has harmed you or a loved one, you deserve more than compensation—you deserve accountability. Drunk-driving injury cases require experienced legal strategy, a deep understanding of the law, and a commitment to holding reckless drivers and any enabling parties fully responsible.
Contact our Atlanta personal injury attorneys today. We may be able to take your case and fight for the justice and support your family needs to move forward.