George Chadwell Creal Jr.

George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. is a law firm concentrating in DUI Defense and Personal Injury and Work Injury Prosecution. We have represented thousands of individuals arrested for DUI, secured over 100 not guilty jury verdicts for our clients and secured millions of dollars in settlements and judgments for those injured at work and through the negligence of others. As reflected in our 5 star client reviews across the internet, our dedication to customer service and the well-being of our clients are second to none. Rated AV Preeminent on Martindale.com and 10.0/10.0 on Avvo.com. If you are in Metro Atlanta or North Georgia and are looking for the Real Deal DUI or Injury Attorney, please call (404) 333-0706 or visit us on the web at www.georgecreal.com

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Georgia

Since 1993

11th Circuit

Since 1994

U.S. Supreme Court

ID Number: United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Since 1993

United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Since 1996

Associate Attorney

Bentley, Seacrest & Karesh

1994 - 1996

Insurance Defense Litigation

The University of Georgia School of Law

J.D. (1996)

University System of Georgia - University of Georgia

J.D. | Economics, Political Science, Juris Doctorate (Law)

1986 - 1993

Mead Data Central, Inc.; LEXIS Associate. Responsible for instructing students at U.G.A. Law School in computer aided legal research. 1992, 1993.

Honors: Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Cum Laude with High Honors, March 1990. MajorlMinor: Economics/ Political Science Honors: U.G.A. Alumni Scholarship 1986-1990; Sigma Phi Epsilon Pledge Academian; Golden Key National Honor Society; U.G.A. Honors Program Junior Certificate; High Honors U.C.A.; Dean's List; The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Wh o's Who in Among Students in American Universities and Colleges 1990. Activities: Controller (1989), Assistant Controller (1988) Sigma PM Epsilon Fraternity. Vice President (1989-1990) University of Georgia Student Alumni Council. University of Georgia Model United Nations Team, National Model United Nations Competition, Most Outstanding Delegation (1989), Honorable Mention (1988). Delegate European Unification Celebration, Twinning of Sigma Phi Epsilon with the "Corpo de Droit" of the University of Lyon ( Lyon III) in Lyon, France.

Activities: Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law , Special Projects and Research Editor '92-'93, Summer Editor '92, Editorial Board '91-'92.Georgia Society of International and Comparative Law; Environmental Law Association; Student Bar Association; Brussels Seminar on the Law and Institutions of the European Communities held in Brussels, Belgium, Summer 1991; Hague Academy of International Law, The Hague, The Netherlands, Summer 1991. Honors: Dean and Virginia Rusk Fellowship to the Brussels Seminar.

AV Rated

Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Peer Rated for the Highest Level of Professional Excellence. Selected: 2016-2022

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

National Trial Lawyers

2022

Selected: 2016-2022

Client Champion - GOLD

Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Selected: 2021-2022

2022 DUI Lawyer of the Year

Bestlawyers.com

2022

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2022

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2022

Atlanta Criminal Lawyers

Attorney

Current

Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Sustaining Member

Current

Clayton County Law Library Board

Board of Directors

Current

Atlanta Bar Association

Member

1996 - Current

Clayton County Bar Association

Member

1996 - Current

DUI Case Law Blog

George C. Creal, Jr., P.C., Trial Lawyers

2015 DUI Update, 2015 LIster and Hold Public Defender CLE Conference, Georgia Archives

October 15, 2015

Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE Georgia)

Other Acts Evidence in Georgia, Georgia DUI Update, Georgia Bar Building

December 15, 2013

Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE Georgia)

NHTSA DUI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

Ron Lloyd Enterprises LLC

Q. Charged with DUI, missed court date without notice in Georgia. How to resolve?

August 15, 2025

A: I'm sorry to hear about the challenging situation you're facing with this DUI charge in Georgia. As an experienced DUI attorney, I've handled many cases involving issues with court notifications, missed appearances, and bench warrants. The good news is that there are steps you can take to resolve this, especially if you truly weren't informed of the required court date. I'll outline your options below based on Georgia law and common practices in these scenarios.

Understanding Your Situation

In Georgia, a DUI is typically a misdemeanor with a two-year statute of limitations, meaning the prosecution must formally commence the case (e.g., by filing an accusation or issuing a citation) within two years of the alleged offense date. If more than two years have passed since the incident and no proper charging document was filed, the case could potentially be dismissed on those grounds.

However, if you were arrested and "charged" but never received a physical citation or notice of a court date, it's possible that:

• The citation was issued but not properly served to you.

• The case was filed in court, and a notice was supposed to be mailed, but you didn't receive it (which could be due to an address error or other oversight).

• A bench warrant was issued for failure to appear (FTA), which is standard when someone misses a scheduled arraignment or hearing. This could also lead to a driver's license suspension by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and could impact your out of state license once DDS puts a hold on your driving privileges.

An FTA can result in additional charges, but if you can demonstrate a lack of proper notice, that can be a strong defense to mitigate or dismiss those penalties.

What You Can Do to Resolve This

Don't delay—ignoring a bench warrant can lead to arrest during a routine traffic stop, job background check, or license renewal. Here's a step-by-step plan:

1. Verify the Status of Your Case and Any Warrants:

◦ Contact the court where the DUI was allegedly filed (usually the municipal or state court in the county of the arrest, such as Fulton, DeKalb, or Gwinnett). You can call the clerk's office or check online through the court's website or the Georgia Judicial Gateway portal to see if there's an active warrant, pending charges, or license suspension.

◦ Avoid going in person without legal representation, as you risk immediate arrest if a warrant is active.

2. Hire a DUI Attorney Immediately:

◦ An attorney like myself can review the case file, and confirm whether the statute of limitations has expired or if there was a defect in notification (e.g., improper service under Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 17-4-23).

◦ We can file a motion to quash (lift) the bench warrant without you having to appear initially, arguing lack of due process or notice. Courts often grant these motions if there's evidence you weren't properly informed, and we can request a new court date.

◦ If the case is still viable, we can negotiate with the prosecutor to resolve the underlying DUI charge, potentially through a plea, dismissal, or diversion program, while addressing the FTA issue.

3. Address Any License Suspension:

◦ If your license was suspended due to the missed appearance, we'll need to resolve the warrant first, then submit proof to DDS to reinstate it. This might involve paying a reinstatement fee (around $200) and providing documentation from the court.

4. Gather Evidence of Lack of Notice:

◦ Collect any records from your arrest (e.g., police report, bond paperwork) showing no court date was provided.

◦ If notices were mailed, we can subpoena postal records or court logs to prove non-receipt.

◦ This evidence strengthens your position and could lead to dismissing the FTA charge or even the DUI if procedural errors occurred. ... Read More

Q. How long will my License be taken for an under age dui

August 9, 2019

A: In Georgia for under 21 DUI drivers, there are 4 possible outcomes: 1) one year for refusing a test resulting from an administrative license suspension with no limited permit; 2) a 30 day administrative suspension for blowing over the legal limit with a limited permit and day for day credit toward any conviction suspension; 3) 6 months for registering under 0.08 but over 0.02 with no ability to drive; and 4) 1 year from registering over 0.80 with no ability to drive. Even if you have your DUI reduced to a reckless driving you will lose your license for 6 months for having a 4 point offense or 1 year if this is a second 4 point suspension for under 21. The only remedy is be found not guilty or have you case postponed until you are 21 years old, then the regular rules that apply to adults are applicable. Hiring an DUI specialist attorney is mandatory to even have an opportunity to avoid negative license implications. ... Read More

Q. Ex-girlfriend arrested for DUI and a few other offences. What kind of jail time is she looking at?

January 27, 2018

A: A first DUI arrest in 10 years carries a minimum of 24 hours in jail. The best course of action is to consult with an experience DUI lawyer. There are two pieces to a DUI arrest in Georgia that must be analyzed. First, the criminal component. The criminal case can be broken into four parts. The traffic stop, the DUI investigation, the DUI arrest, and the DUI test. First, all law enforcement traffic stops must be based on an articulable suspicion of a traffic violation. Random stops by police are illegal and can result in the dismissal of the entire case. Second, the DUI investigation involves standardized DUI field sobriety evaluations. We are certified in these evaluations and can point out short comings in police investigations that can lead to dismissal of the case for lack of probable cause or exclusion of testing as a result of improper procedures. Finally, the DUI test must be given after following specific state law mandated rights and protocols and must pass constitutional muster under both the 4th Amendment and 5th Amendment. Many tests and refusals are subject to exclusion for violation of the Constitutional rights of the driver. The second piece to a DUI arrest is the administrative license suspension. In Georgia you have 30 calendar days to request a hearing to avoid an administrative drivers license suspension or to by pass the license suspension process altogether by installing an interlock alcohol breath testing device on your car for one year. An experienced DUI lawyer is a must. This area of law is highly technical. A DUI arrest does not have to end in a DUI conviction. We will review your police incident report, police video and interview the Officers and work toward a dismissal of the case, a reduction in charges to something like a reckless driving or a Not Guilty verdict after trial. We can also help minimize punishment when a DUI conviction is unavoidable. ... Read More