The Tragic Toll of Indifference: Georgia Drunk Driving Accidents
According to statistics gathered recently by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a fatal accident caused by an alcohol-impaired (drunk) driver will occur every 50 minutes somewhere in the U.S. Approximately 16,000 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes each year, and every other minute a person will suffer serious injury in an alcohol-related auto accident.
Although these stark numerical totals may change over time, the lesson remains the same –– driving under the influence of alcohol claims lives. A recent study by the NHTSA reveals the rather apathetic attitude of many drivers toward the car accident risks associated with drunk driving. A startling 17% of drivers admit to drinking before driving. It is reasonable to presume that this number vastly understates the problem because many people who have driven while under the influence of alcohol may choose not to disclose their past indiscretions.
It is hard to understand where this indifference and apathy comes from given that drunk driving accidents can mean devastating injuries which can lead to permanent loss of physical and mental functioning and even death as well as staggering medical expenses that can wipe out a family's savings virtually overnight. The reality is that drunk driving accidents cause 30 percent of all auto accident-related fatalities.
Tougher DUI sentences and public education campaigns have helped reduce the number of drunk drivers, but public apathy remains a problem. Hard-core repeat offenders are dealt with harshly, and automatic license revocation seems to be one of the most effective measures of curbing drunk driving. Other preventative legal measures include impounding vehicles and installing ignition interlock devices that prevent an intoxicated person from starting his or her vehicle.
Given the enormous risk of being involved in a serious auto accident and stricter DUI penalties, it is hard to understand why people continue to drink and drive. However, one reason may be that many drivers are unable to objectively judge their driving ability when under the influence of alcohol. In the recent NHTSA survey, forty percent of those surveyed indicated that they believed that they could drive safely even after consuming five drinks. Habitual drinkers are even more inclined to believe that they can drive safely when intoxicated because their increased tolerance makes them feel like they are less affected. Nonetheless, their reaction time, coordination, reflexes, vision and judgment are likely to be impaired creating a substantially increased risk of a drunk driving accident.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured by a drunk driver, you are entitled to be fully compensated for your injuries, which can include compensation for lost wages (past and future), medical costs, pain and suffering and even punitive damages. The experienced Georgia drunk driving accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been representing the victims of drunk drivers throughout all of Georgia for over 39 years. Our dedicated and experienced Atlanta auto accident attorneys will work diligently to obtain the financial compensation you need as opposed to what the other driver’s insurance company wants to pay. We will seek the best possible outcome in your case as part of our ongoing mission to be known as the best Atlanta auto accident lawyers.
The Georgia auto accident law firm of Montlick and Associates is available to assist clients 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.