DUI Accident Lawyer in Alpharetta, GA

Why You Shouldn’t Accept a Quick Insurance Settlement

After a DUI accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may reach out quickly with a settlement offer—but don’t be fooled. While it might seem tempting to accept fast cash and move on, these early offers are often far less than what you truly deserve.

Insurance companies are in business to minimize payouts, and they count on victims not realizing the full cost of their injuries. Here’s why accepting a quick settlement can be a costly mistake:

You Might Not Know the Extent of Your Injuries Yet – Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, or chronic pain conditions, don’t show up right away. If you settle too soon, you could be stuck paying medical bills out of pocket later.

Your Future Medical Bills May Not Be Covered – If your injuries require ongoing physical therapy, surgeries, or long-term care, a low settlement won’t account for those expenses.

You May Be Entitled to More Compensation – DUI accident victims can often seek punitive damages in Georgia, which are additional payments meant to punish the drunk driver for their reckless behavior. Insurance companies rarely offer these upfront.

Once You Accept, You Can’t Ask for More – Once you sign a settlement agreement, your case is closed—even if you later realize you need more compensation.

Before making any decisions, speak with an experienced DUI accident lawyer who can assess the full value of your claim and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. At Spaulding Injury Law, we’ll review your case for free and ensure you aren’t shortchanged by insurance companies.

How Drunk Driving Leads to Devastating Crashes and Injuries

Numerous studies have found that excessive alcohol intake prevents drivers from safely operating a motor vehicle. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows down reaction times, and could even make drivers fall asleep while driving. Some drunk drivers likewise tend to engage in reckless and aggressive driving tactics, which is especially hazardous when their reflexes are already impaired. Drunk driving accidents typically involve these types of car crashes:

Sideswipe Collisions – Drunk drivers could knowingly or unknowingly switch lanes without signaling nearby drivers, and could sideswipe other vehicles.

Rear-End Crashes – Tailgating (driving too close to the vehicle in front) and speeding are common examples of reckless driving behaviors that could cause rear-end collisions. Even if drunk drivers are not tailgating or speeding, they have slower reaction times and could lose focus on what’s happening around them, which could prevent them from stopping or slowing down on time to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of them.

Rollovers – Drunk drivers could lose control of the vehicle, swerve too aggressively, or hit an object on the road, causing a rollover accident. Unfortunately, some rollover accidents could result in a chain reach accident that could involve innocent road users.

Head-On Crashes – Because of the negative effects of alcohol, drunk drivers are also known to enter one-way roadways and strike other vehicles head-on, leaving innocent drivers no time to prevent the accident. This also happens in two-way streets where drunk drivers suddenly leave their designated lanes and crash head-on with another vehicle.

Regardless of the specific kind of auto accident, a DUI accident has the potential to cause serious damage. In the worst cases, the victims’ lives (and the lives of their families) could be changed forever, if they even manage to survive the accident. This is why our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting our injured clients’ rights and aggressively seek monetary compensation that is commensurate to their accident-related damages.

How a Drunk Driving Accident Could Change Victims’ Lives Forever

Drunk driving accidents are tragic and unfair—leaving some intoxicated drivers with minor injuries or none at all, while victims suffer devastating, life-altering consequences. If you or a loved one were injured in a DUI accident, you know just how quickly everything can change.

Many DUI accident victims face:

Extended hospital stays with painful surgeries and treatments.

Years of rehabilitation or even lifelong medical care.

Lost wages and, in severe cases, permanent inability to work.

Emotional distress, chronic pain, and loss of independence.

For example, a spinal cord injury from a DUI crash can lead to paralysis, preventing you from returning to work—especially if your job involves physical labor. Even less severe injuries can add up quickly, leading to expensive medical bills and unexpected time off work.

The Long-Term Impact of a DUI Accident Beyond financial losses, a serious DUI crash can impact every aspect of your life: You may struggle with daily tasks like dressing, eating, or even walking. Your personal relationships may change, as loved ones become caregivers. Emotional trauma—anxiety, depression, and PTSD—can take a toll on your well-being. Even victims with moderate injuries face medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress—all of which deserve full and fair compensation.

Liablility in a DUI Accident in Georgia

The Drunk Driver – Obviously, the drunk driver must be held financially liable for the damages their actions caused. In this case, compensation will usually come from the driver’s insurance provider.

The Employer of the Drunk Driver – Employers may be held vicariously liable for their employee’s actions during the course of the employees’ employment. But this will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident.

A Bar or Social Host – A social host (like someone who throws a party) or any establishment that served the drunk driver alcohol and permitted the person to drive after getting drunk might likewise be held responsible for the DUI accident under Georgia dram shop laws. It’s crucial to note, however, that if the at-fault driver went to different establishments before the accident, then it could be challenging to figure out which establishment could be held liable for the accident.

Can parents be held liable if a minor causes a drunk driving accident? Yes, depending on the particular circumstances of the case, if an intoxicated minor was driving a vehicle that caused the wreck, the parent could be liable.

Never accept the first settlement offer from an insurance company after a DUI accident. They’re counting on you to settle quickly, often before you even know how much your injuries will truly cost. At Spaulding Injury Law, we fight for the full compensation you deserve—not a lowball offer.

Georgia DUI Laws & Victim Rights

When a drunk driver causes an accident, they aren't the only ones who face legal consequences—but victims often don’t realize their full rights under Georgia law. You have the right to seek full compensation for your injuries, property damage, lost wages, and emotional suffering. Even if the driver was arrested and charged with DUI, their criminal case does not automatically provide you with compensation—you need to take legal action to recover what you deserve.

Georgia has strict DUI laws in place, and victims can use these laws to their advantage in a personal injury claim.
Key Georgia DUI laws include:

A driver is legally impaired with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.

For drivers under 21, the legal limit is 0.02%, making it illegal to drive with almost any alcohol in their system.

Georgia Dram Shop Law (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40) allows bars, restaurants, and other alcohol-serving businesses to be held liable if they over-served alcohol to a driver they knew was intoxicated and likely to drive.

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation from multiple sources—including the at-fault driver, their insurance company, or even the business that served them alcohol. Understanding your rights as a victim is critical, and Spaulding Injury Law is here to help.

Learn How Our Top Alpharetta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help

The reckless actions of a drunk driver could change your entire life in a millisecond. If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, get in touch with the experienced personal injury lawyers at Spaulding Injury Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer today. You can trust that our top Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers will do everything they can to ensure that the drunk driver who hurt you is held fully responsible and pays for all the losses you’ve incurred in the DUI accident.

You can fill out our online form or call us to schedule your free case consultation with one of our experienced Alpharetta drunk driving accident lawyers today.