Are Penalties Different When an Accident is Involved in a Georgia DUI Case?

While Georgia law already imposes harsh penalties for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) convictions, anyone convicted of causing a drunk driving accident in Atlanta—or anywhere else in the state—faces additional criminal charges as well as the possibility of civil charges.

Criminal charges for drunk driving in Georgia

When an Atlanta drunk driving accident occurs, particularly if anyone is injured or killed, the consequences become substantially more severe than the standard DUI penalties, and are always in addition to the standard amount of jail time, fines, and community service already ordered.  Felony conviction for these charges can mean very severe penalties on top of the ones imposed for the DUI, including the following:

• Increased fines
• Lengthy prison sentences
• Increased bail charges

Additionally, auto insurance rates are steeply increased if a person's actions cause a drunk driving accident in Georgia.  The driver may also be dropped from their insurance policy.

Civil charges for drunk driving in Georgia

Anyone who causes a Georgia drunk driving accident is likely to face civil charges in addition to criminal charges.  Civil cases are brought by individuals who directly experienced damage or bodily injury as a result of the accident or by families of individuals who were killed in the accident. 

When a person is convicted in civil court, he or she can expect to pay extensive damages to the injured parties.  Settlements or verdicts for drunk driving lawsuits can include immediate property damage, medical bills, long-term medical care bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.  The at-fault driver must pay for the lifetime costs of a victim living with a permanent disability caused by the accident.

Even a not-guilty verdict in a criminal DUI case does not guarantee similar results in a civil case.  The rules of evidence are different between criminal and civil courts.  And, as civil court cases do not have reasonable doubt requirements, it is easier to be judged guilty in a civil case.

You need an experienced DUI attorney in Atlanta

If you were involved in a DUI accident in Georgia, you need a Georgia DUI law firm with experience and who knows how to fight these cases.  Whether you know you are innocent, or even if you feel you cannot avoid conviction, contact the Chestney Law Firm today at 404-816-8777 for the experienced support you need for your case.