Damages in Atlanta Dram Shop Cases

Georgia has a high rate of drunk driving accidents compared to other states. Anyone hit by a drunk or high driver often faces mounting expenses for months or years, as well as difficulty returning to work or to school. If a drunk driver’s insurance company refuses to settle fairly, it can leave catastrophic injury victims and their families in a stressful situation.

In Georgia, businesses that serve liquor—and even the people who serve it—have legal duties to other people on the road when a drunk driver leaves their establishment and harms someone. Attorney Dwayne L. Brown understands how accident victims can claim damages in Atlanta dram shop cases when those parties have broken the law. Contact our dram shop lawyer today for guidance.

Losses in Drunk Driving Accidents

A drunk driving accident has a strong chance of killing other drivers, passengers, cyclists, or pedestrians. Those who survive a drunk driving crash are very likely to face catastrophic injuries, those that change a person’s life and capabilities permanently. In these cases, an attorney must anticipate costs and damages that include:

• Emergency medical transport and immediate care
• Ongoing surgeries and medical treatments, including rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Mobility aids, home accommodations, and other adaptations to new abilities
• Extra costs for home help and child care that the injured person had formerly done themselves

This could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet the minimum auto insurance coverage in Georgia provides only $25,000 for a single person’s injury. Even if an Atlanta drunk driving survivor has some UM/UIM coverage for a situation like this, it may not be enough and may warrant pursuing damages under dram shop liability law.

Who Could Share Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents?

In states that have dram shop laws, someone who sells or serves liquor to an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for drunk driving crashes if they broke the law in serving the drunk person. A bar, restaurant, liquor store, or (in some cases) an individual who served a guest can fall under a dram shop law.

In Atlanta, a business or a social host can be liable under Georgia dram shop law if they knowingly, willfully served a minor or anyone who was “noticeably” intoxicated, and they knew that person would “soon be driving a motor vehicle.” By extending this liability, lawmakers mean to discourage businesses and hosts from creating the conditions for drunk driving accidents. However, it does not apply if a business was fooled by a fake ID or a host did not consent to the drunk person receiving alcohol on their premises.

Let Our Atlanta Legal Team Help You Pursue Damages in a Dram Shop Claim

The aftermath of a crash is a painful time, and we want to help. For three decades, Attorney Dwayne L. Brown has been helping accident victims. Our team can help you find the doctors you want on your side while we assemble your case.

Attorney Brown is one attorney with a team of paralegals dedicated to helping injured families and their claims. If you work with our office, you can text Attorney Brown or contact your assigned paralegal directly at any time. We also work on contingency fees, meaning your initial consultation is free and we collect no fees unless we win your case. Contact us today to schedule a meeting and find out whether you can pursue damages in an Atlanta dram shop case.