Nelson, GA Personal Injury Law Firms & Lawyers

Yes you can sue the drunk driver for the damage to your vehicle. If the driver was insured, you might be able to negotiate a settlement with the drunk driver's insurance company. If the vehicle is totaled, you will not be able to recoup all of the money you have spent on it. The drunk driver, or the insurance company, is only liable for the "reasonable" value of your vehicle. The reasonable value is what the vehicle itself was worth in the condition it was just prior to being struck. The best valuation of what is "reasonable" would be to find another vehicle in the exact same condition (same year, mileage, add-ons, etc.) as yours. However, this is often difficult to do especially for older vehicles. While insurance companies and juries do not use this, you could look at Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association ("NADA") to help give you a range of values that your vehicle might be worth. Things you added to the vehicle lose their value almost immediately after you put them on your vehicle. However, depending on the item, they may increase the value of your vehicle.

Perhaps. Your neighbors would likely argue that your canopy was not secured down properly and that is why the wind was able to blow over. If you have homeowner's insurance, I would suggest you make a claim with them.