If your life or a loved one's life has been changed because of a drunk driver, you are not alone. In the United States, three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. In Georgia alone, 331 people died in alcohol-related accidents in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Nationwide statistics for 2009, the latest numbers published by the NHTSA, are listed below. It is evident in these numbers that Atlanta drunk driving injury cases have a far-reaching impact, adversely affecting many lives.
- Of fatal accidents, over 30 percent involve an alcohol-impaired driver.
- On average, one person died every 48 minutes, due to an alcohol-impaired driver.
- For fatal crashes occurring from midnight to 3 a.m. nationwide, 66 percent involved alcohol-impaired driving.
- On New Year's Day, 468 people were killed in car accidents. Alcohol-impaired driving contributed to 40 percent of them.
- Fatal crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers occurred four times more at night than during the day (37 percent versus 9 percent).
- Of people ages 21 to 24 involved in fatal crashes, 35 percent had a BAC above the legal limit.
- 14 percent of children ages 14 and younger killed in crashes died because of alcohol.
- More than 181 children were killed due to drivers who were drunk.
- Drivers with a BAC level of .08 or higher in fatal crashes were eight times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving while under the influence.
- The most frequently recorded BAC level among drinking drivers in fatal crashes was .17, which is more than twice the legal limit.
These numbers point to the still large and looming problem of driving and drinking. More awareness and tougher laws are starting to bring these numbers down; however, if you have been a victim in a drunk driving accident the numbers turn to a personal story where there is very real loss, and even one alcohol-related accident becomes too many.
If you have been an Atlanta DUI victim, you do have the right to seek damages to compensate you for the loss suffered. This compensation can help victims put their lives back together after a wreck involving a drunk driver.
Contact the experienced lawyers at Shane Smith Law today to learn more about your legal rights. You can reach us by calling (980) 246-2656 or by filling out the online form on this page.