Atlanta DUI Accident Victim Lawyer

Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. are leading Atlanta DUI Accident Victim lawyers that represents victims injured in DUI accidents around metro Atlanta. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injured parties and their families. For over 30 years, victims and families in Georgia have turned to Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. for caring legal representation after being injured in a DUI-related collision.

Driving under the influence (DUI) refers to the criminal act of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. While most accidents are caused by alcohol-impaired drivers, drugs other than alcohol account for approximately 18% of motor vehicle deaths. Every day, almost thirty people in the United States die in an alcohol-related crash. This amounts to one death every 48 minutes. In 2009 alone, fatalities from DUI accidents accounted for nearly one-third of all traffic-related fatalities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the three groups with the greatest risk of being in a DUI accident are young people, motorcyclists, and drivers with prior DUI convictions. More than one-third of drivers with blood alcohol content (BAC) levels of 0.08% or higher are between the ages of 21 and 24, and drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes were eight times more likely to have a prior DUI conviction.

To be charged with a “per se” DUI violation under Georgia law, a driver must have a BAC level at or beyond the limit prescribed by law. The legal alcohol limit varies depending on the driver’s age. For drivers 21 and over, a BAC reading of 0.08 within three hours of driving will result in a DUI. The limit is lower for underage drivers and operators of commercial vehicles. Drivers under 21 may be convicted of DUI with a BAC of 0.02, even if this concentration of alcohol is not sufficient to make the driver “drunk.” The legal limit for commercial vehicle drivers is 0.04. Underage drinkers and repeat offenders are more susceptible to harsher penalties such as suspension or revocation of their driver’s license and steeper criminal fines. Drivers who commit three DUI offenses within 10 years may be sentenced to up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines. A fourth DUI is considered a felony offense punishable by revocation of the driver’s license for ten years and up to five years in jail.

Despite the harsh penalties in place for punishing drunk drivers, the criminal justice system does not compensate victims or their families for the loss they suffered as a result of the accident. The fines imposed on drunk drivers do not come close to covering the outrageous medical bills and insurance claims following in the aftermath of the carnage. Automobile accidents can result in serious, disfiguring injuries and permanent disability. Victims often do not feel symptoms of an injury to the brain or spinal cord until weeks after the accident. The mental anguish and emotional distress of losing a family member lasts for years after the crash.

At Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A., we understand that DUI accident victims cannot just climb out of bed and get on with their lives; family members cannot leave the bedside of their loved ones to argue with claims adjusters and insurance agents. That is why our caring Atlanta DUI accident attorneys will help take care of the legal issues, so all you have to do is recover. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a DUI accident, we are here to help. Call Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. at (800) 700-5050 or Contact Us online.