Hurt by a Drunk Driver? Talk to a Jonesboro Car Accident Lawyer Today

Being hit by a driver who turned left across your path is frightening and confusing. If that driver was drunk, the questions multiply. This guide explains how fault works in a left-turn crash, what changes when the other driver was impaired, and what a claim can include. If you are searching for a Jonesboro GA drunk driving accident lawyer, these are the plain facts to know first.

What a Left-Turn Crash Is and Who This Page Is For

A left-turn crash happens when a driver turns left across oncoming traffic and a collision follows. These crashes often happen at signaled intersections, driveways, and median cuts on roads in Jonesboro and Clayton County. The oncoming vehicle often strikes the driver’s side door, which can cause neck, back, and head injuries.

This page is for two kinds of readers. One is a person still recovering from a crash they did not choose. The other is a family member trying to understand what happened to someone they love. Both often face the same early questions: who was at fault, what the injuries will cost, and how much time they have. No two claims are the same, so the outcome depends on the facts.

Who Is Usually Responsible in a Left-Turn Collision

Fault in a left-turn crash depends on what each driver did in the seconds before impact.

Drivers often tell different stories. The turning driver may say the oncoming car was speeding or ran a light. The oncoming driver may say the gap in traffic looked clear. Police reports, witness statements, and signal timing help sort out these claims.

Georgia law also divides fault between the people involved. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, a judge reduces your damages by your percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more responsible, you are not entitled to any damages.

Each at-fault party pays its own share. The statute says those shares are not joint liability. An insurer’s first view of fault is a starting point, not a final answer, and it can change as records come in.

When the Other Driver Was Impaired

A drunk driving crash can lead to both a criminal case and a civil injury claim, and the two run on separate tracks.

Impairment can slow reaction time and affect judgment about gaps in traffic. That is why the other driver’s condition matters in a left-turn case. Evidence that may show impairment includes officer observations in the crash report, field sobriety test notes, chemical test records, and any criminal charges.

The civil case has its own proof.

Timing works differently in these cases. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-99 can pause the civil filing clock while a criminal prosecution is pending. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-99 can pause the civil filing clock while a criminal prosecution is pending. The six-year limit on the pause is stated in that section, which provides that such time does not exceed six years. Don’t plan around it.

Punitive damages may also come into play. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1, punitive damages may be awarded only where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences. In a tort case not arising from product liability, if the defendant acted or failed to act while under the influence of alcohol, or of drugs other than lawfully prescribed drugs administered in accordance with prescription, or of any intentionally consumed glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor, to the degree that judgment is substantially impaired, there is no limit on the amount of punitive damages against the active tort-feasor. Punitive damages punish and deter. They do not compensate. They must be proven by clear and convincing evidence.

What a Left-Turn Injury Claim Can Include

A left-turn injury claim can seek medical costs, lost income, other losses from the injury, and property damage.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2, general damages can be recovered without proof of an exact amount. Special damages actually flow from the wrong, so they must be proved.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2, special damages are those which actually flow from a tortious act and must be proved in order to be recovered. The limit on medical bills is in O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1, medical expenses are limited to the reasonable value of medically necessary care, treatment, or services. Necessary expenses from an injury are also a legitimate part of the damages estimate, under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-7.

Lost income is shown through pay records and employer statements. Property damage can include the vehicle and personal items inside it.

Insurance can matter too. If the impaired driver had no insurance, your own coverage may apply. O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 requires Georgia auto liability policies to include uninsured motorist terms.

If a left-turn crash causes a death, the personal representative may recover funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses. O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5 sets that rule for deaths from a crime or negligence.

How the Claim Process Works, Step by Step

A claim usually moves from a first conversation to evidence gathering, insurance talks, and a lawsuit only if needed.

1. Free consultation. You describe the crash, your injuries, and your insurance information. The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.
2. Preserve evidence. Requests may go out for the crash report, traffic camera and business video, dashcam footage, vehicle data, and witness contacts. Video and vehicle data are not always kept long, so early requests matter.
3. Investigate and document. The team looks at signal timing and traffic gaps, and gathers treatment records.
4. Negotiate with the insurer. The claim is presented, offers are reviewed, and disputes over fault are answered.
5. File suit if needed. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, actions for injuries to the person generally must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues, but actions for injuries to the person involving loss of consortium must be brought within four years after the right of action accrues. Don’t wait on that clock.

The firm works on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis. Clients may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Why Clients Contact T. Madden & Associates, P.C.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm in practice since 1999.

The firm’s Jonesboro office is in Clayton County. The firm also has offices in Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta.

Terance Madden is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers include Terance Madden and Shenia Madden. Our team handles car accident, truck accident, motorcycle, e-bike, slip and fall, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, negligent security, and wrongful death matters.

The first consultation is free, confidential, and has no obligation to continue. Calls are available 24/7. For a Jonesboro GA drunk driving accident lawyer, the firm’s approach starts with explaining the rules in plain words so you can ask direct questions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Left-Turn Crashes in Jonesboro

Most early questions after a left-turn crash come down to fault, deadlines, and insurance.