A drunk driver doesn't have an accident — they make a choice that shatters someone else's life. When that someone is you or a person you love, Kyle Koester holds the driver, and anyone who helped put them on the road, fully accountable.
Injured by a drunk driver in Georgia?
Kyle Koester is a Woodstock, GA drunk driving accident attorney representing people seriously hurt — and families who have lost someone — in crashes caused by impaired drivers across Cherokee County and metro Atlanta. A drunk driver can be held liable for your full losses plus punitive damages, and Georgia removes its usual $250,000 punitive cap when a defendant was under the influence (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391; § 51-12-5.1). In some cases the bar, restaurant, or host who over-served the driver is a second defendant under the dram shop law (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40). You have two years to file (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), and there is no fee unless he wins. Free consultation: 770-744-5250.
Drunk driving crashes are among the most devastating cases Kyle handles — and among the most preventable. The injuries are frequently catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, multiple surgeries, and lives that never look the same again. Too often, they're fatal.
What sets these cases apart is accountability. A driver who chose to get behind the wheel impaired isn't just negligent — their conduct can justify punitive damages meant to punish and deter, on top of full compensation for what you've lost. And when a bar or host knowingly fueled that choice, Georgia law may let Kyle pursue them too.
Every case is built like it's going to trial. That preparation is what gives families the leverage to demand full value — and the credibility to take an insurer to court when they won't be fair.
Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and other life-altering harm from high-impact drunk driving wrecks — where future care is measured in decades, not bills.
When a family loses someone to an impaired driver, Kyle pursues full accountability and the recovery Georgia law allows for the value of the life that was taken.
An extreme blood alcohol level or a prior record speaks to how reckless the conduct was — and strengthens the case for punitive damages.
When a bar or restaurant knowingly served a visibly drunk patron about to drive, that establishment may share the blame — and the insurance.
Adults and businesses that supply alcohol to minors can face liability when an underage drinker causes a wreck.
If the impaired driver fled or carries too little insurance, Kyle pursues every source of recovery, including your own UM/UIM coverage.
If you or a loved one was hit by an impaired driver, these steps protect your health and your claim.
See a doctor right away, even if adrenaline is masking the pain. Some of the most serious injuries — brain and internal injuries — aren't obvious at the scene.
An official report, field sobriety results, and any breath or blood testing become powerful evidence. Get the report number before you leave.
Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries. Note where the driver had come from — a bar or restaurant can matter for a dram shop claim.
Adjusters move fast after a DUI crash. Don't give a recorded statement or accept an early offer before you've spoken with a lawyer.
Dram shop evidence — receipts, tabs, and video — can be erased within days. The sooner Kyle is involved, the more he can preserve and prove.
A drunk driving case isn't only about your bills — it's about the full cost of someone else's choice, and the punishment the law reserves for that choice.
If we don't win, you don't pay.
No fees, no costs, no risk. Kyle only gets paid when he recovers money for you.
Get Your Free Case ReviewDrunk driving cases turn on a handful of Georgia laws. Here's what each one does — tap through for the deep dive on any of them.
Defines drunk and drugged driving in Georgia — the 0.08 and "less safe" standards.
Why it matters: A DUI violation can establish negligence and open the door to punitive damages. Read the statute page →
When a bar, restaurant, store, or host who served the alcohol can share responsibility.
Why it matters: It can add a second defendant — and a second insurance policy. Read the statute page →
Georgia's punitive damages law, including the $250,000 cap that normally applies. (Confirm current subsection.)
Why it matters: That cap does not apply when the driver was under the influence — a major factor in case value.
Georgia generally gives you two years from the crash to file — and government claims far less.
Why it matters: Miss it and the claim is gone for good. Read the statute page →
Georgia's 50% bar — your recovery drops by your share of fault, and ends at 50%.
Why it matters: Insurers try to shift blame to you even when their driver was drunk. Read the statute page →
Go deeper: read the in-depth guide — Injured by a drunk driver in Georgia?
Statutory references current as of 2026. Always confirm current Georgia law — your specific case may involve additional or updated provisions.
Straight answers to what victims and families ask Kyle most.
Yes. The criminal DUI case punishes the driver but doesn't compensate you — that takes a separate civil claim. A DUI violation can help establish fault, and impaired driving often supports punitive damages on top of your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Often, yes. Georgia normally caps punitive damages at $250,000, but that cap does not apply when the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drunk driving is one of the few situations where punitive damages can exceed the usual ceiling.
Sometimes. Under Georgia's dram shop law, a provider can be liable for knowingly serving a noticeably intoxicated person who will soon be driving, or for serving someone underage. When that's the case, the establishment can be a second defendant — which matters because its insurance is often far larger than a driver's auto policy.
No. Your civil claim is separate and uses a lower standard of proof, so you can win even if the driver is acquitted or never charged. Waiting can actually hurt you — evidence disappears and your filing deadline keeps running.
Nothing up front. Kyle works on a contingency fee — you pay no attorney fee unless he recovers money for you, and the consultation is free.
Healing right now? These plain-English recovery guides cover what these injuries commonly involve, when to seek care, and why finishing your recovery matters to your claim — starting with why you shouldn’t settle before you’ve healed.
Hit by a drunk driver? See what your case may be worth.
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