Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Roswell, GA

Small-Town Principles. Relentless Advocacy for Roswell Accident Victims.

When a drunk driver causes serious harm, the legal process that follows is nothing like a standard car accident claim. Insurance companies push back hard from the start, evidence must be preserved quickly, and the stakes are high. Bettis Musgrove represents injured victims and families throughout Roswell and Fulton County who need attorneys who will actually fight for them, not a case management system that keeps them at arm’s length.

Ben Musgrove and Spenser Bettis founded this firm on small-town Southern principles: direct communication, genuine care, and accountability. Ben has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year from 2019 to 2023. Both attorneys bring backgrounds in military and law enforcement that inform a disciplined, strategic approach to every drunk driving accident case we handle.

If you or a family member was hurt by an impaired driver in Roswell, GA, don’t wait to get legal guidance. Call Bettis Musgrove at (470) 347-1515 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Georgia DUI Law, What to Do After a Crash, & Who Can Be Held Liable

What Qualifies as DUI Under Georgia Law

Georgia’s DUI statute, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, defines driving under the influence as operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or illegal substances, including marijuana. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older, 0.04% for commercial vehicle operators, and 0.02% for drivers under 21.

Alcohol impairs cognition, reaction time, coordination, and vision, and those deficits compound as BAC rises. A DUI criminal conviction isn’t required for a victim to pursue a civil claim. Impairment can be established through police reports, chemical test results, and witness testimony, making a criminal case outcome a supporting factor rather than a prerequisite.

Steps to Take After a Drunk Driving Accident in Roswell

Seek emergency medical care immediately, even if you feel fine. Injuries like traumatic brain injuries and internal trauma often have delayed symptoms that worsen without treatment. Taking the right steps after the crash protects both your health and your ability to recover compensation.

Call 911: The police report is essential evidence. If the other driver appears impaired, tell responding officers so they can administer field sobriety and chemical tests.
Document the scene: Photograph or video the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries before anything is moved.
Collect witness information: Names and contact details from anyone who saw the crash can support your claim later.
Decline recorded statements: Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
Contact an attorney early: Evidence can disappear fast. Early legal involvement helps preserve what matters most to your case.

Who Can Be Held Liable

The drunk driver is the primary at-fault party, but liability in these cases can extend further. Under Georgia’s dram shop law, O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40, a bar, restaurant, or other alcohol vendor may be held liable if it served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person while knowing that person would soon be driving. A private individual who supplied alcohol to an underage driver may also share liability under the same statute.

If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to pursue compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. In Georgia, declining UM/UIM coverage requires a written waiver, so many drivers carry it without realizing how valuable it can be in exactly this situation.

Contact Us Today

At Bettis Musgrove, we're always ready to take your call! Give us a call at (470) 347-1515 or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members.

First Name
Last Name
Phone
Email
Are you a new client?
How can we help you?
By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from Bettis Musgrove at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy

Why Roswell Victims Choose Bettis Musgrove

Bettis Musgrove deliberately limits its caseload to clients who truly need our help, which means your case gets focused attention, not a spot in a queue.

When you work with us, you have direct access to your attorney throughout the entire process, not a rotating staff of case managers. We’re available around the clock because serious injuries don’t follow business hours. For clients who can’t travel, we come to you: home and hospital visits are available so you can focus on healing while we focus on your case.

Our attorneys bring backgrounds in military and law enforcement that shape how we build and negotiate cases: methodically, with attention to detail, and without backing down from insurance company pressure.

Direct Attorney Access: You speak with your attorney, not a go-between, from consultation through resolution.
24/7 Availability: We’re reachable any time, day or night.
No Fees Unless We Win: You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Free Consultations: There’s no cost to find out where you stand.
Home and Hospital Visits: We come to you when you can’t come to us.
Support Through Recovery: We help connect clients with physical therapy and counseling services as needed.

Clients consistently describe our work as professional with genuine heart. We care about the people we represent. That’s the foundation this firm was built on.

Compassionate & Honest Representation
We provide personal service and care for each client in order to deliver the best results possible.
Available for Help 24/7
No matter the time of night or day, you can count on our firm.
Free Consultations Available
Learn how our injury lawyers can help during a free consult.
You Don't Pay Unless We Win
You don't pay our firm a dime unless we win for you.

Compensation in Roswell Drunk Driving Accident Cases

Drunk driving accident claims can include a wide range of damages. Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document: medical bills, surgery and rehabilitation costs, prescription expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages address what can’t be itemized on a receipt: pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.

When a drunk driving accident results in a death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim covering burial and funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support. We handle the full range of outcomes, including cases involving catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injury and amputation, and wrongful death claims on behalf of Roswell families.

Insurance companies in these cases routinely attempt to minimize settlement offers or shift partial blame to the victim. Having legal representation can change that dynamic. Bettis Musgrove manages every stage of a case: from the initial investigation and evidence gathering through negotiation with insurers. We frequently pursue policy-limit settlements for clients in high-stakes collisions, including cases where insurance coverage falls short of the actual losses. Don’t accept any settlement offer before speaking with an attorney. Initial offers are rarely close to the full value of a claim.

Georgia’s Filing Deadline & Punitive Damages

The Two-Year Statute of Limitations

Georgia law gives injured victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Missing that deadline can mean forfeiting the right to seek compensation in court, regardless of how clear the other driver’s fault may be. Acting quickly also protects the evidence: witness memories fade, surveillance footage gets overwritten, and accident scene conditions change. Certain circumstances, such as cases involving minors, can affect the applicable timeline. An attorney can advise on the specific deadline for your situation.

Punitive Damages in Drunk Driving Cases

Unlike compensatory damages, which reimburse victims for actual losses, punitive damages are designed to punish the at-fault driver and deter similar conduct. Georgia courts may award punitive damages when a drunk driver’s actions demonstrate willful misconduct, wantonness, or conscious indifference to the consequences. A prior DUI record or an exceptionally high BAC can support such an award.

Georgia Code § 51-12-5.1 caps punitive damages at $250,000 in most personal injury cases, but that cap doesn’t apply when the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol. Drunk driving cases are explicitly exempt, meaning there is no upper limit on what a jury may award in punitive damages against an impaired driver. Because of this exception, the total value of a drunk driving claim can be significantly higher than in a standard car accident case, which is one more reason why having an attorney who understands how these cases are built and valued matters from the start.

Talk to a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Roswell Today

If you were injured by a drunk driver in Roswell or anywhere in the Fulton County area, it’s important to act promptly. Bettis Musgrove offers free consultations, home and hospital visits, and 24/7 availability. There are no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call Bettis Musgrove now at (470) 347-1515. We can help whenever you need us.