What Every Georgia Motorist Should Know about Teen DUI Accidents
While DUI is a serious cause of many motor vehicle accidents in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, teen drivers who drink and drive continue to pose a serious danger to vehicle occupants, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Because teenage drivers are inexperienced with both alcohol and driving, they are more likely than other age groups to be involved in an alcohol related car accident. Despite Georgia's zero tolerance law concerning underage drinking and driving, teenagers continue to drive while impaired by alcohol. At Montlick & Associates, we are committed to safe driving practices that keep everyone on the road safe. We have provided an overview of what motorists should know about teen drunken driving accidents.
How prevalent is teen alcohol use among novice drivers?
There are almost 11 million underage drinkers in the U.S. with twenty percent of those underage drinkers engaging in heavy drinking. Almost half of all seniors in high school have consumed alcohol during the past 30 day period. Underage drinkers consume a higher quantity of alcohol when they drink than adults. During a typical month, ten percent of high school age kids commit DUI while almost thirty percent ride in a vehicle with an alcohol impaired driver.
What unique risks are posed by underage drivers who consume alcohol?
Teenage drivers have less experience with alcohol so they are more inclined to underestimate the impairing effects of alcohol and misjudge their ability to drive after consuming alcohol. Teenage drivers also have less driving experience so they are more prone to be involved in motor vehicle accidents even when their driving ability is not impaired by intoxicating substances like drugs or alcohol. Teenage drivers also are more inclined to speed, which adds to the risks posed by the dangerous combination of driver inexperience and alcohol use. Among teenage male drivers between the ages of 15-20, almost forty percent of teens involved in fatal accidents were speeding and 25 percent were intoxicated according to the CDC.
What are my child's rights after an accident if my child was a passenger in a car with an underage drunken driver?
A passenger in a car that is injured because the driver was negligent may have a right to legal compensation for any injuries caused by the drunken driver. Insurance companies sometimes try to mitigate their cost of damages in such cases by claiming that the passenger failed to exercise reasonable care for his or her own protection by riding in the car with an alcohol impaired driver. Because insurance companies work diligently to reduce the value of legitimate accident claims or to avoid liability, it is important to seek legal advice from an experienced Georgia drunk driving accident lawyer.
What compensation is available in a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a drunken driving accident?
The specific types of damages depend on the particular facts of the case but may include: past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished future earnings, pain and suffering, loss of affection and support, property damage, compromised quality of life, burial and funeral expenses (wrongful death cases) and punitive damages.
If you or someone close to you has been injured or a loved one has died in a Georgia car accident involving a drunk driver, the Atlanta DUI accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates are committed to holding those who drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol accountable for the injuries and wrongful deaths caused by their negligence.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Case.
Our Atlanta car accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to 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.
The experienced Atlanta motor vehicle accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates are dedicated to helping injury victims recover the financial compensation they need to reclaim their lives. We invite you to contact 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.
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html