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Drunk Driving Accidents

Fact: Drunk drivers cause almost a third of all traffic-related fatalities.

Driving while intoxicated isn’t an “accident.” It’s a choice: while under the influence of alcohol, someone decides to get behind the wheel, putting themselves and others in danger. It doesn’t take much to exceed the legal limit blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. The consequences can be stressful, time consuming and, often times, life changing.

At Litner + Deganian, our job is to ensure you get compensated fairly for when you are injured at the hands of a DUI driver and to make the legal process as swift and stress-free as possible. That’s our commitment to you, and we don’t get paid until you do.

In a drunk driving accident? Start with these steps.

1. Get medical treatment:
If you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, call 911 and see a doctor as quickly as possible. Even if you don’t have any evident pain, impairments or serious injuries, it can be difficult to judge the severity of your injury without the help of a trained medical professional. Being proactive about your well-being goes a long way in minimizing long-term pain and shows the insurance company you’re doing everything you can to recover from your injuries as quickly as possible.

2. Take note of what happened:
Snap as many pictures as you can of any visible bodily injuries or damage to your vehicle. Write down all known information about the driver, location, injured victims, potential witnesses, and how the car accident occurred.

3. Contact us as soon as possible:
Get in touch with us right away—and certainly before you speak with an insurance company representative—so we can provide helpful insight into getting a favorable settlement and quickly assess next steps. And yes, the consultation’s on the house.

Do I really need an accident attorney?

Short answer: Absolutely. Every year, approximately $44 billion is spent in compensation for medical expenses, time lost from work, insurance and legal costs, and property damage. But if you ask us, that still isn’t enough to fairly compensate the victims. When it comes down to it, drunk driving cases are much more complex than any other type of motor vehicle accidents, and different rules apply.

For example, you may be eligible for more compensation in the form of punitive damages, and you may also be able to hold a person or company responsible for getting the intoxicated driver drunk.

To make matters worse, insurance companies are not on your side. They’re in the business of making a profit, which often comes at the expense of drunk driving accident victims. That’s why it’s important not to speak with insurance company representatives until after you’ve spoken with an attorney; you may unknowingly make a comment or statement that will later be used against you to pay out less than you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

And remember: the at-fault driver will likely be backed by a legal team of their own, all ready to fight against your case.

Come prepared.

What to look for in a law firm:

For accident victims in particular, it’s imperative to have someone who doesn’t just know how to handle complex cases, but who can also think outside the box to maximize the settlement. Avoid “dabblers,” or drunk driving accident attorneys who will do the bare minimum work for your compensation. Instead of focusing on what to avoid, we’d rather help you spot a good car accident lawyer. Look for these things:

A proven track record of successful results: Great results backed by a positive attorney-client relationship matters. Look for a law firm that has successfully handled cases similar to yours.
Timeliness: A good car accident attorney acts fast. They should be responsive to your calls and emails and keep you informed about the progress of your case. Make sure the law firm you choose has a reputation for clear communication and dedicated support.
Integrity: It’s important to choose a law firm that checks off the boxes for both professionalism and ethical standards. Look for a firm that is licensed and in good standing with relevant professional organizations, and whose personal injury lawyers have a reputation for ethical behavior.
Size matters: Large firms may have more resources and personnel, but smaller firms often go the extra mile with personalized attention and around-the-clock support.

A quick look at our process.

From the minute you call us, you have our undivided attention, exclusive legal advice and insight into the complete process, and smart recommendations on next steps—whether you proceed with us or not. But if you do, we’ll roll up our sleeves and get to work right away. First we gather all the data regarding your auto accident, provide a legal analysis and draft the necessary documentation so we can build a rock-solid personal injury case. If we think you could do better than what the insurance is offering, we’ll let the judge decide; we love a good argument so we’ll take a trip to court over the easy way out any day.

P.S. We don’t believe in charging for the consultation and in getting paid for something that ultimately didn’t benefit you—so we don’t get paid until you do.

What makes our personal injury attorneys different?

We ditch the lawyer lingo, unless it’s absolutely necessary. We love questions and are happy to answer any that you have, day or night. After years of working for insurance companies, we know the tricks of the trade and how they operate. And nothing drives us more than helping those in our communities and their family members live a little better.

But this isn’t about us. Car crashes can induce an immeasurable amount of stress for both the DUI victims and their loved ones, especially when drunk drivers are involved. So it’s our goal to make your personal injury claim process seamless, your path to recovery swift, and your compensation as fair as possible.

The biggest takeaway: Don’t settle for less

At Litner + Deganian, we’ve successfully recovered personal injury settlements for clients all over Atlanta. With years of experience successfully trying drunk driving accident cases, we’re prepared to do what’s best for you—even if that means turning down a settlement offer and taking the case straight to trial.