Savannah Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone dies in a drunk driving crash in the United States every 42 minutes. In Savannah’s historic streets and busy corridors from River Street to Victory Drive, impaired drivers pose serious risks to everyone on the road. When you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, you need a Savannah drunk driving lawyer who will tenaciously pursue full compensation from both the impaired driver and any parties who may have contributed to their intoxication.
At Hasner Law, we’ve spent over 80 years combined representing injured clients throughout Georgia and have recovered more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts. We understand the complex legal issues in drunk driving cases and how to hold all responsible parties accountable.
We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your case. Call us at (912) 234-2334 to discuss your drunk driving accident claim.
Savannah Drunk Driving Accident Guide
- How Hasner Law Fights for Savannah Drunk Driving Accident Victims
- Understanding Georgia’s Drunk Driving Laws and Civil Liability
- Common Types of Savannah Drunk Driving Accidents
- Devastating Injuries from Savannah Drunk Driving Crashes
- Multiple Parties Who May Face Liability in DUI Cases
- Compensation Available for Savannah Drunk Driving Victims
- Why Savannah Drunk Driving Cases Need Experienced Legal Representation
- Time Limits for Savannah Drunk Driving Claims
- Speak with a Savannah Drunk Driving Lawyer Today
How Hasner Law Fights for Savannah Drunk Driving Accident Victims
Drunk driving accidents differ significantly from typical car crashes because they involve both civil liability and criminal prosecution of the impaired driver. At Hasner Law, we advocate for you through the intertwined criminal and civil processes that follow drunk driving accidents.
Pursuing All Liable Parties
Liability is not limited to the impaired driver. Under Georgia’s dram shop laws, bars, restaurants, and social hosts who serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals may also be held responsible. We pursue all potential sources of compensation.
Acting Quickly to Preserve Evidence
Key evidence such as blood alcohol test results, bar surveillance footage, and witness statements can disappear quickly. Our team works fast to secure police reports, medical records, receipts, and credit card transactions that show when and where alcohol was purchased.
Early investigation often reveals additional liable parties. Building these cases requires specific types of evidence, which makes prompt legal action essential.
Aligning Civil Claims with Criminal Cases
Criminal and civil cases proceed separately but often influence one another. We track the criminal proceedings and use any guilty pleas or convictions to support your civil claim.
When drunk drivers plead guilty or face conviction, this criminal liability helps establish fault in civil cases. However, we don’t wait for criminal proceedings to conclude before pursuing your compensation, as civil cases operate under different standards and timelines than criminal prosecutions.
Understanding Georgia’s Drunk Driving Laws and Civil Liability
Georgia maintains strict laws against drunk driving while also providing civil remedies for victims injured by impaired drivers. Understanding these legal frameworks helps establish liability and build stronger compensation claims.
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-6-391 establishes legal intoxication at 0.08% blood alcohol content for drivers over 21, with lower limits for commercial drivers and those under 21. Drivers who operate vehicles while impaired face both criminal penalties and civil liability for resulting accidents.
Georgia’s Dram Shop Laws for Alcohol Vendors
Georgia’s dram shop statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40, holds alcohol vendors liable when they serve visibly intoxicated customers who later cause accidents. This law applies to bars, restaurants, package stores, and other establishments that sell alcoholic beverages.
To establish dram shop liability, we must prove that the establishment served alcohol to someone who was noticeably intoxicated and that this service directly contributed to your injuries. Video surveillance, witness testimony, and receipts often provide the evidence needed to hold these businesses accountable.
Social Host Liability in Georgia
Georgia law also recognizes social host liability when individuals serve alcohol at private parties or gatherings. While the standards differ from commercial establishments, hosts who serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated guests may face liability for subsequent accidents caused by those guests.
Social host cases often involve parties, weddings, or corporate events where alcohol service continues despite obvious signs of guest intoxication. These cases require careful investigation of party planning, alcohol service, and witness testimony about guest behavior.
Common Types of Savannah Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents in Savannah often follow predictable patterns based on the impaired driver’s behavior and the city’s unique geographic features. Understanding these patterns helps establish liability and build stronger cases for injured victims.
River Street and Historic District DUI Crashes
Savannah’s historic River Street entertainment district creates unique drunk driving risks due to the concentration of bars, restaurants, and tourists in a small geographic area. Drunk driving accidents frequently occur as impaired drivers attempt to navigate the cobblestone streets or make unsafe turns near tourist attractions.
Often, these crashes involve out-of-state visitors unfamiliar with Savannah’s street layout who become more dangerous when impaired. The narrow streets and heavy pedestrian traffic in the historic district increase the severity of accidents when drunk drivers lose control of their vehicles.
Highway and Bridge Alcohol-Related Accidents
Drunk drivers on Savannah’s highways and bridges often cause high-speed accidents with catastrophic injuries. The Talmadge Memorial Bridge and surrounding highway system see frequent drunk driving crashes, particularly during evening hours when bar patrons attempt to drive home.
These highway accidents typically involve higher speeds and more severe injuries than city street crashes. The confined space of bridge approaches leaves little room for evasive action when drunk drivers swerve or drive the wrong way.
Intersection and Traffic Signal Crashes
Impaired drivers frequently run red lights or fail to yield at intersections throughout Savannah. Major intersections like Abercorn Street and Victory Drive see regular drunk driving accidents when impaired drivers misjudge signal timing or forget to stop completely.
These intersection crashes often result in T-bone collisions that cause severe injuries to occupants of vehicles with legal right-of-way. The sudden nature of these crashes leaves little time for defensive driving measures.
Devastating Injuries from Savannah Drunk Driving Crashes
Drunk driving accidents often result in more severe injuries than other car crashes because impaired drivers frequently speed, run red lights, or drive the wrong way, creating high-impact collisions that cause catastrophic harm. Understanding these injury patterns helps establish appropriate compensation demands while demonstrating the full extent of harm resulting from the decision to drive under the influence.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Drunk driving crashes often cause brain injuries, from concussions to permanent cognitive damage. Victims may require emergency treatment and long-term rehabilitation at facilities like Memorial Health or St. Joseph’s. Many suffer lasting memory loss, personality changes, and reduced mental function, which impact daily life and increase long-term care costs.
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: DUI-related collisions can injure the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries reduce mobility, limit independence, and affect employment and relationships. Long-term needs may include medical care, assistive equipment, and home modifications, which are all crucial factors in determining fair compensation.
- Wrongful Death Claims: Drunk driving fatalities can lead to wrongful death claims under Georgia law. Families may recover damages for lost income, benefits, and the value of companionship and support. Because these deaths are preventable, courts often award compensation that reflects both the financial and emotional loss.
Thorough legal action in these cases helps ensure accountability and provides financial support that reflects the lasting impact of impaired driving accidents.
Multiple Parties Who May Face Liability in DUI Cases
Drunk driving cases often involve several defendants who may share responsibility for accidents and resulting injuries. Identifying all liable parties maximizes potential compensation by accessing multiple insurance policies and assets.
Bars and Restaurants Under Dram Shop Law
Establishments that serve alcohol face potential liability when they continue serving visibly intoxicated customers who later cause accidents. We investigate the drunk driver’s activities before the crash to identify bars, restaurants, or other venues that may have contributed to their intoxication.
Common evidence in dram shop cases includes surveillance video showing the defendant’s level of intoxication while being served, credit card and receipts documenting alcohol purchases and timing, witness testimony from bartenders and patrons about visible intoxication, and specialist testimony about alcohol absorption and the timeline of intoxication.
The commercial nature of alcohol service creates higher liability standards than social situations, making bars and restaurants valuable defendants in drunk driving cases.
Social Hosts and Private Parties
Hosts of private events may be held liable if they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated guests who later cause an accident. These cases often arise from weddings, corporate events, or house parties where alcohol service continues despite obvious signs of guest impairment.
Social host liability requires proving that hosts knew or might have known their guests were intoxicated when they allowed them to drive. This evidence often comes from party attendees, photographs, and the host’s own admissions about guest behavior.
Employers and Vehicle Owners
When drunk driving accidents occur during work hours or involve company vehicles, employers may face liability for their employees’ actions. Georgia’s respondeat superior doctrine holds employers responsible for employee conduct within the scope of employment.
Vehicle owners who lend cars to individuals they know are intoxicated may also face liability for resulting accidents. These cases require proving the owner’s knowledge of the driver’s impaired condition when the vehicle was provided.
Fighting Insurance Company Tactics in Savannah Drunk Driving Cases
Insurance companies approach drunk driving cases differently than standard accidents because the criminal liability makes fault determination clearer, yet they still deploy various tactics to minimize their financial exposure and reduce compensation for injured victims. Understanding these strategies helps protect your rights during the claims process while building the strongest possible case for maximum recovery.
Common insurance company tactics in drunk driving cases include:
- Challenging blood alcohol test results by arguing improper testing procedures or timing issues
- Disputing injury causation by claiming pre-existing conditions caused current symptoms
- Minimizing damage awards through multiple medical examinations and treatment challenges
- Delaying claim resolution hoping financial pressure forces inadequate settlement acceptance
We work with toxicology experts to establish when and how much alcohol the driver consumed while collaborating with medical professionals who understand drunk driving accident injuries. This comprehensive approach helps establish the driver’s actual impairment level when the accident occurred and clearly demonstrates how the crash caused your specific injuries, overcoming insurance company attempts to minimize legitimate claims.
Compensation Available for Savannah Drunk Driving Victims
Georgia law allows drunk driving accident victims to recover comprehensive compensation for all losses resulting from impaired drivers’ negligence. The reckless nature of drunk driving often leads to larger compensation awards than standard car accident cases.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses including medical expenses from emergency treatment through future rehabilitation needs, lost wages during recovery periods, reduced earning capacity due to permanent disabilities, and costs for assistive equipment and home modifications.
Non-economic damages address intangible losses like physical pain and suffering from injuries and treatments, emotional distress from accident trauma, loss of life enjoyment due to activity limitations, and impact on family relationships and quality of life.
Punitive Damages for Drunk Driving
Georgia law allows punitive damages when defendants’ conduct shows willful misconduct, malice, or recklessness under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1. Drunk driving clearly meets these standards because drivers make conscious decisions to operate vehicles while impaired despite knowing the risks.
Punitive damages serve to punish drunk drivers while deterring similar conduct by others. These awards often significantly increase total compensation while sending clear messages about the consequences of driving under the influence in Savannah and throughout Georgia.
Why Savannah Drunk Driving Cases Need Experienced Legal Representation
Drunk driving cases involve unique legal complexities that require specialized knowledge and experience beyond standard car accident claims, making the choice of legal representation particularly important for maximizing recovery. The intersection of criminal and civil proceedings, multiple defendant investigations, and dram shop liability issues demand attorneys who understand these specific challenges and have the resources to handle comprehensive investigations.
Evidence Gathering in Savannah Drunk Driving Cases
Drunk driving cases require extensive investigation beyond typical accident reconstruction because we must trace the impaired driver’s activities for hours before the crash, identify every establishment that served them alcohol, and gather evidence of their visible intoxication at each location.
Key evidence we collect in drunk driving cases includes:
- Surveillance footage from bars, restaurants, and nearby businesses showing intoxication levels
- Credit card and receipt records documenting alcohol purchases, timing, and locations
- Witness testimony from bartenders, servers, and patrons about visible signs of impairment
- Police reports and toxicology results establishing blood alcohol content and field sobriety tests
This investigation often involves subpoenaing records from multiple businesses, interviewing numerous witnesses, and coordinating with law enforcement agencies while evidence remains available and witness memories stay fresh.
Coordinating Multiple Legal Proceedings in Drunk Driving Cases
Criminal prosecution of drunk drivers runs parallel to civil compensation claims, creating coordination challenges that affect both proceedings while requiring careful management to maximize benefits from each legal avenue. We monitor criminal cases while building civil claims, using criminal evidence to strengthen injury cases while avoiding interference with ongoing prosecutions that might compromise either case.
This coordination requires understanding both criminal and civil legal procedures, along with the different evidence standards and timelines involved in each type of proceeding, which allows us to leverage criminal convictions that establish fault while pursuing civil remedies independently.
The timing of civil discovery must be carefully managed to avoid compromising criminal investigations, yet we move aggressively to preserve evidence and build compensation claims that address all your losses regardless of criminal case outcomes.
Time Limits for Savannah Drunk Driving Claims
Georgia’s statute of limitations requires filing drunk driving accident lawsuits within two years of the crash date under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. However, the complexity of drunk driving cases makes early legal consultation important for protecting your rights and preserving evidence.
Preserving evidence early is critical, especially since bar and restaurant surveillance footage is often deleted after a short time. Credit card records, witness memories, and physical evidence also deteriorate over time, making immediate legal action important for building the strongest possible case.
Dram shop claims against bars and restaurants may have additional notice requirements or shorter limitation periods depending on the specific circumstances. Early legal consultation helps identify all applicable deadlines and preserves your rights against all potential defendants.
Speak with a Savannah Drunk Driving Lawyer Today
Drunk driving crashes are preventable tragedies that often result in life-altering injuries or the loss of a loved one. These cases involve complex legal issues, multiple liable parties, and a need for swift action to preserve critical evidence. Whether you are navigating medical recovery, grieving a loss, or dealing with insurance pressure, you do not have to face this process alone.
At Hasner Law, our legal team brings over 80 years of combined experience to every drunk driving case we handle. We understand the stakes, the challenges, and the legal tools needed to pursue full compensation and accountability. From identifying all responsible parties to building a case that supports both economic and non-economic damages, we are committed to helping you recover.
We offer free consultations and handle every case on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win compensation for you. Call us today at (912) 234-2334 to speak with an experienced Savannah drunk driving lawyer. Let us protect your rights, pursue justice, and help you move forward.
Hasner Law: Atlanta Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
P: (678) 888-4878
