Fatal Cobb County Car Crash Poses Grim Reminder That Alcohol and Speed Are Deadly Mix
A fatal Cobb County road departure collision that resulted in the death of a Marietta man provides an emphatic reminder of the danger of mixing speed and alcohol when navigating the highways and streets of Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that the BMW convertible left the roadway and struck a mailbox as the driver tried to negotiate a left turn. The vehicle then began to roll before slamming into a utility pole causing the death of the driver and injuries to a passenger. According to the AJC report, the police believe that speed and alcohol were a factor in the fatal Cobb County car crash.
The interaction of intoxicating substances and speed constitute a dangerous mix that frequently contributes to far too many serious auto accidents resulting in devastating injuries including spinal cord injuries, brain damage, amputation of limbs, paralysis and wrongful death. Because of the devastating toll exacted by this deadly combination, our Cobb County car accident attorneys have provided an overview of the way these two factors magnify the risk faced by motorists of being involved in a fatal car crash.
Excessive speed increases both the likelihood that a driver will be involved in a collision and the force of the impact when a car crash occurs. Nearly a third of all car crashes involve a driver who is violating the speed limit according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Studies following past increases in the speed limit have found that there is a direct correlation between higher speed limits and car crash-related fatalities as well as permanent debilitating injuries according to a report by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).
The NCHRP report indicates that raising the speed limit from 55 to 65 mph on an average stretch of roadway increased the number of collisions by approximately three percent and resulted in nearly a 25 percent greater probability of the driver dying. The fatality rate also increased 12 percent when speed limits rose from 65 to 75 mph. The authors of the study speculate that the fatality rate did not increase as much when limits were raised to 75 mph because drivers became more cautious to compensate for the increased risk at high rates of speed.
When drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the risk of speed-related crashes is compounded because alcohol slows reflexes, impairs judgment and adversely impacts coordination. The relationship between alcohol and speed in fatal accidents is evidenced by the fact that four in ten motorists involved in substance impaired fatal crashes also exceed the speed limit whereas only fifteen percent of sober drivers involved in fatal collisions are determined to be speeding according to the NHTSA.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For You
If you or someone close to you is injured or a loved one dies in a Cobb County speed and alcohol-related accident, our Atlanta accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates are available to provide effective legal representation to those throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.