When Hit By a Drunk Driver in Atlanta, Understand the Value Implications
One of the frequent questions we get as Atlanta DUI accident lawyers is “how much is my case worth?” While we have explored that topic before, one variant involves people that get hit by drunk drivers in Atlanta and the effect that has on case value.
The answer is, good evidence that the driver was under the influence can substantially increase the value of the claim. Why? For two reasons:
1. Practical Reason: Evidence that a Driver was drunk understandably angers the jury. The jury is more likely to award an higher verdict to compensate the injured plaintiff. (the injury needs to be legit though, no B.S. claims)
2. Legal Reason: Georgia law allows a party injured by a drunk driver to seek punitive damages to punish the reckless behavior. If the jury finds in phase 1 of the trial that punitive damages are appropriate, after they award an amount to compensate for the injury and lost wages, there is a punitive phase to the trial where evidence of prior DUIs and lack of remorse come into the case.
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