DUI Victims

An Experienced Advocate for Victims of Drunk Drivers...

DUI car wreck cases are not the same as other accident cases. If you are the victim of a Metro Atlanta Area hit and run or a car accident where the other driver was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you have a strong case for collecting damages, but many injury victims collect much less than they could or should in these cases.

Why are DUI car accident victims collecting less than they deserve?
Many victims and their lawyers fail to take advantage of the rulings and evidence from the offender's criminal trial. Victims often just want closure, so they take the minimum allowable payout from insurance and move on. But that can leave injury victims less than satisfied or properly compensated. At the Law Offices of R. Shane Smith, we counsel patience.

The Law Offices of R. Shane Smith serve Metro Atlanta Area victims of DUI/DWI accident and injury cases.

We advise you to wait to collect on your claim until after the criminal trial. Allow us to complete our investigation in order to maximize the value of your case. If you are seeking closure, a civil trial provides a better setting to lay your emotional pain to rest.

Shane Smith can advise you about testifying in a criminal trial. He will explain your options and help you understand the legal process, including the ways your attorney can use evidence from the criminal DUI trial to maximize your benefit in civil court.

Accident and incident reports reveal the drunk driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of the accident, but they don't reveal the DUI offender's past history. That history comes to light during the criminal trial, and may determine whether the criminal court judge orders the defendant to pay punitive damages.

DUI victims may sue for damages including:

Medical expenses
Property damage
Loss of income
Pain and suffering
Wrongful death

But in addition...
In Georgia, DUI offenders are exposed to punitive damages. That means in the course of a criminal trial, the judge may order civil damages paid to the victim that are separate from and in addition to the damages you may claim in a civil trial, and punitive damages may be awarded to you even if you are not injured in the accident.

A prior offender may be ordered to pay higher damages, which is why, as your lawyer, Shane Smith will advise you to wait until we get the records.

At the Law Offices of R. Shane Smith, we let you make the decisions in your case. Shane is a long-time Georgia resident and is active in his community. As an attorney, he believes in advocating for and informing his fellow citizens so they have the power to make the right choices.

If you live in the Metro Atlanta Area and have been injured in a DUI car wreck, or your loved one was hurt or killed by a drunk driver...

Please call 770-HURT-999 (770-487-8999) or fill out our online contact form. Ask about our DVD for DUI victims and request one of our books. Your Property Damage Plan of Action and The Georgia Car Wreck Guide provide valuable tips and facts for Georgia injury victims.

The Law Offices of R. Shane Smith serve the Metro Atlanta Area including the following Georgia cities, counties, and towns: Fulton County: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Palmetto, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Union City. Clayton County. Henry County: Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, Stockbridge. Coweta County: Grantville, Haralson, Moreland, Newman, Sargent, Senoia, Sharpsburg, Turin, Raymond. Dekalb County: East Atlanta, Edgewood, East Lake, Candler Park, Kirkwood, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain. Douglas County: Douglasville, Villa Rica. Muscogee County: Bibb City, Columbus City, Columbus, Custer Terrace, Fort Benning, Fortson, Midland, Upatoi. Baldwin County: Midway-Hardwick, Milledgeville. Clarke County: Athens, Winterville, Bogart. Gwinnett County: Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Norcross, Rest Haven, Snellville, Sugar Hill, Suwanee. Cobb County: Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna. Spalding County: East Griffin, Experiment, Griffin, Orchard Hill, Sunny Side. Fayette County: Brooks, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Woolsey. Paulding County: Braswell, Dallas, Hiram. Forsyth County: Cumming, Coal Mountain, Chestatee, Big Creek, Midway. Cherokee County: Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Waleska, Woodstock. Chattahoochee County: Cusseta, Fort Benning South. Marion County: Buena Vista. Harris County: Hamilton, Pine Mountain, Shiloh, Waverly Hall, West Point.

Blog for DUI Victims

Library for DUI Victims:

Georgia DOT: Atlanta wrong-way crashes often caused by impaired drivers
Description: Studies indicate that about 61% of wrong-way crashes are caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Wrong-way crashes are especially deadly. Fifty percent of wrong-way crashes result in fatalities or incapacitating injuries. This means they are far more likely to cause death and serious injury than most other types of freeway crashes. If you have lost a loved one to an impaired driver in an accident of any type, The Law Offices of R. Shane Smith can help. Attorney Shane smith represents the families of DUI victims in the metro Atlanta area. Please call 770-HURT-999 to learn more.
How is a DUI victim case or a case where someone was DUI different?
Description: Driving Under the Influence or DUI continues to be a serious problem in the Atlanta, Georgia area. It is bad enough when you are injured in a wreck that you did not cause; but, emotionally, it can be much worse when someone hits you who was drinking or is DUI. These cases are handled differently in our office.
Civil Proceedings Give Real Closure to Victims in Georgia DUI Cases
Description: When a person is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Georgia, several penalties can be imposed by the criminal court depending on the situation, but DUI victims often find that legal penalties don't heal the hurt they've suffered.

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