Drunk Driving Accidents in Atlanta, Georgia

FAQ: How common are drunk driving accidents?

Drunk driving accidents someone every 31 minutes in the United States. Every two minutes a drunk driver injures someone, often catastrophically. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about 40 percent traffic fatalities and seven percent of the total crashes involve alcohol. Alcohol intoxication was involved in 31 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2013. It is not surprising that 40 percent of all fatal DUI crashes occur on weekend evenings.

What age and gender are most common among drunk drivers?

About 79% of fatal drunk driving accidents involve drivers under 34 years old, about 73 percent of whom are male.

FAQ: What is the difference between a lawsuit against a drunk driver and a criminal prosecution for Driving Under the Influence?

When a driver chooses to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes a crash resulting in injuries or death, the victims of the car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or pedestrian accident may sue for monetary damages for their injuries in a civil case. That is entirely separate from any criminal prosecution of the drunk driver.

FAQ: Are past DUI convictions admissible in evidence for punitive damages in a lawsuit against a drunk driver?

In Georgia, attorneys may introduce evidence of prior incidents of drunk driving in the punitive damages of a trial after the jury has already decided liability and compensatory damages such as medical expenses, income loss, and physical and mental pain and suffering.

FAQ: What is the importance of understanding insurance issues in a lawsuit against a drunk driver?

Effective representation of clients in drunk-driving accident cases requires careful analysis of liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, and medical lien issues to efficiently obtain the optimal outcome for the client.

Johnson & Ward, established in 1949, was Atlanta’s first personal injury specialty law firm. Call today at (404)253-7862 to schedule a free consultation. We handle car and truck accidents, falls, and serious injury claims, and we only get paid if we win.

Ken Shigley, senior counsel, former president of the State Bar of Georgia, was the first Georgia lawyer to earn three board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy: Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Practice, and Civil Pretrial Practice. He was the lead author of eleven editions of Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation and Practice, and received the Traditions of Excellence Award from the State Bar of Georgia General Practice and Trial Section. B.A., Furman University; J.D., Emory University Law School; Certificates in mediation and negotiation, Harvard Law School. As a young Assistant District Attorney, he got early trial experience prosecuting drunk drivers for DUI and vehicular homicide.

John Adkins, managing partner, experienced in personal injury law, including auto accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, premises liability claims, dangerous or defective products, medical malpractice and related Plaintiff’s tort litigation. B.A., magna cum laude, Kennesaw State University; J.D., Thomas Jefferson Law School.

Ed Stone, partner, personal injury law, including truck accidents, auto accidents, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, premises liability claims, dangerous or defective products, medical malpractice, and related Plaintiff’s tort litigation. B.B.A., Kennesaw State University; J.D., John Marshall Law School.