When you or a loved one has been involved in a catastrophic accident with a drunk driver who may have run a red light or crossed over the median to cause a head-on wreck, more than sheet metal and bones can be damaged. Drunk driving accidents can have a deep emotional impact for all those involved.
Drunk driving has and always will be an irresponsible act. When drivers get behind the wheel after having one drink too many, they are a danger to themselves and to all of those around them. Studies have shown that drunk drivers experience slow reaction times, poor recognition of dangers, and trouble staying on the road.
When drunk drivers cause serious wrecks—as they inevitably will do if they routinely drink and drive—the damage they cause is reprehensible. The others involved incur not only physical injuries but also needless suffering. It is the victims of the accident, not the drunk driver, who usually have to pay the consequences of very poor decision-making.
When the victim of a Georgia drunk driving accident is injured, he has more to heal than cuts, bruises, broken bones, and serious external or internal injuries. He also has to deal with the inherent feeling of being wronged by an irresponsible and reckless person. The accident was not his fault, yet he must deal with the pain and emotional suffering.
For all drunk driving victims, especially those with serious or even life-threatening injuries, there is a significant emotional impact from the crash that may take years—or even a lifetime—to come to terms with. This impact is multiplied exponentially if a loved one or family member has been killed in the wreck.
The people injured or negatively affected by a drunk driving accident may be eligible to recover damages for all the associated costs of the wreck. This can include logistical elements such as medical bills and lost wages from missed time at work, but also the significant instances of pain and emotional suffering that accompany these crashes.
For more information about your legal rights in these cases, or to learn if you are eligible to recover financial compensation for emotional pain or suffering, call an experienced Georgia DUI victim attorney in your area. You can schedule a free consultation with the attorneys of Shane Smith Law today by calling (980) 246-2656 or filling out the form on this page.