DUI Accident

Being hurt in a car accident due to a drunk driver is emotionally and physically painful. In addition to concerns about your health and recovery, you may feel bitter or angry about another person’s negligence in putting you in this position. You may be entitled to sue the drunk driver who caused your injuries for damages and financial compensation that can make it easier to get your life back on track. You may also be able to sue the drinking establishment if it knowingly allowed a drunk to get behind the wheel.

If you’ve been hurt by a drunk driver, the most important thing to focus on is your own health and well-being. Follow your doctor’s medical advice and pursue his or her recommended treatments to help speed your recovery. Get the required therapies that will help you get back to normal after your injuries, and seek professional help if you’re suffering from mental trauma in the wake of the accident. While you recover, contact an aggressive Atlanta DUI accident attorney who can navigate you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries in court.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is injured by a drunk driver every two minutes on United States roads and highways. Over 44,000 people were killed by drunk drivers in 2013 alone. Drunk driving costs U.S. taxpayers more than $199 billion each year, and in 2014, Georgia taxpayers spent $1.4 billion to address damage from accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Alcohol acts as a depressant, slowing the reaction time and reflexes of the person who consumes it. Someone who has been drinking will be physically unable to perform everyday functions normally. Alcohol also has a negative impact on a person’s judgment and hand-eye coordination. Since all of these skills are needed to drive safely, no one should ever get behind the wheel of a car if he or she has been drinking.

The higher someone’s blood alcohol content when driving, the more likely he or she is to be involved in an accident. However, it’s important to note that even a driver with a blood alcohol content as low as 0.02 percent can cause a devastating car accident. There is no completely safe blood alcohol content level beyond 0.00 percent. If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and should speak with a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA.

In Georgia, there are three different legal limits for blood alcohol content for drivers. For persons under age 21 (who cannot legally drink), the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02 percent – the equivalent of about one drink. The blood alcohol limit for drivers (over age 21) of non-commercial vehicles is 0.08 percent, and for drivers of commercial vehicles (such as semi-trucks and tractor-trailers), the limit is 0.04 percent.

Drivers found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia face stiff penalties. The penalties for a first offense can include jail time ranging from 24 hours to a year, fines of $300 to $1,000, and suspension of the person’s driver’s license for up to one year. The penalties for subsequent offenses are even stiffer, with jail time of up to five years, fines reaching $5,000, and indefinite suspension of the offender’s license.

Additionally, for the second DUI offense and beyond, the courts may require the guilty driver to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in his or her vehicle. This is a device that prevents a vehicle from starting until the driver proves his or her sobriety by passing a breathalyzer test. All 50 states now have some form of IID requirement as part of the consequences of drunk driving.

Drunk driving continues to be a devastating problem. If you were injured by or experienced property damage due to a drunk driver, call our office at 404-733-1166 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation to discuss your case with an Atlanta DUI accident lawyer at The Dixon Firm, P.C.