Georgia Drunk Driving Accidents:The Epidemic of Avoidable Tragedies
All across Georgia and throughout the U.S., Americans spend much of their lives in a motor vehicle commuting to work, taking our children to school, or driving to the grocery store or local mall. One study found that the average person spends approximately 540 hours per year or over two hours per day in a motor vehicle. Given the enormous amount of time we spend driving, the risk of being involved in an auto accident with a drunk driver is much greater than many would care to imagine. Tragically, many of us have a loved one who may have been involved in an alcohol related car accident and suffered catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. The victim of a drunk driving accident is almost always not responsible for causing an accident, but helpless to avoid it as well.
At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been working closely for over 39 years with families in the greater Atlanta area and throughout the State of Georgia who have been injured or killed by drunk drivers. We know the pain and anguish that accompanies such a tragedy and our team of caring attorneys will work closely with your family to help you deal with the tragedy and seek just compensation.
The prevalence and danger posed by drunk drivers can hardly be overstated. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that drunk driving results in the deaths of almost 12,000 people in a typical year, accounting for a staggering 32% of all traffic accident fatalities. NHSTA statistics also indicate that a person is killed in an alcohol related accident every 45 minutes in the U.S. The picture is almost as bleak when only Georgia drunk driving accidents are considered. Over 400 people die as a result of alcohol related accidents in a typical year, amounting to 28% of all alcohol related fatalities in the State of Georgia. The economic cost of drunk driving is rarely considered but it has been estimated that drunk driving accidents cost the public approximately $114.3 billion per year.
The saddest aspect of drunk driving accidents is that they are entirely inexcusable because they could have been prevented by simply not drinking and driving. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we aggressively pursue claims against drunk drivers responsible for serious injuries and death. In Georgia, a driver can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence) if the person operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) of .08 or more. If a chemical test at the time of the accident establishes the driver was intoxicated, the finding alone is often sufficient to establish liability. Georgia drunk driving accident law not only permits negligence claims against drunk drivers who cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities but also allows recovery of punitive damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish and discourage drunk drivers from their reckless conduct.
Sometimes the people or businesses who provided alcohol to a drunk driver may also be legally responsible for serious injuries or fatalities caused by a drunk driver. This is especially true where alcohol was sold to an underage person or to a person who was obviously intoxicated at the time of sale. Georgia law permits drunk driving accident lawyers to file suit against all responsible parties who contribute to drunk driving collisions.
The most frequent type of drunk driving accident in Georgia is a two car collision. However, alcohol related accidents also commonly involve pedestrians, commercial trucking collisions, motorcycle crashes, bicycle accidents, and boating accidents. Because drunk driving accidents also often involve excessive speed, the injuries suffered in such accidents can be extremely serious including broken bones, internal organ damage, head/neck/spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury and wrongful death. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Georgia drunk driving accident attorneys have been helping the victims of drunk driving accidents seek compensation for catastrophic injuries and fatalities in Atlanta and throughout Georgia for over 39 years
The attorneys of Montlick and Associates, Attorney at Law, will work hard to protect your rights and to get you the compensation you deserve. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia including, but not limited to, Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller and rural towns in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away, and we will travel to meet with you!