If you or a loved one has been injured in an Atlanta drunk-driving car crash, your world has changed. In the past, you may have given little thought to the legal terms associated with drunk driving, but now these words are part of your life. At first, they can be confusing. Atlanta DUI injury attorney Shane Smith has created a guide for terms used in Georgia DUI cases.
- Alcohol-impaired: In the United States, a driver is alcohol-impaired when his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater.
- Alcohol-involved: A driver is considered alcohol-involved if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .01 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater, or if the driver has been drinking, but his BAC is not known. A driver who is alcohol-involved can be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia if the arresting officer can show that the driver’s ability to operate his vehicle was impaired, even if his BAC was less than .08.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): BAC refers to the amount of alcohol present in the blood. BAC is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters (deciliter) of blood (g/dL), so a driver with a BAC of .05 has .05 grams of alcohol present per 100 milliliters of blood.
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): In many states, the phrases ‘driving while intoxicated (DWI) and ‘driving under the influence (DUI) have separate definitions. However, in Georgia, DWI and DUI are used interchangeably to refer to a driver whose abilities are impaired by alcohol. However, the term ‘driving under the influence is preferred because it can refer to the influence of either alcohol and/or drugs.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Driving while one’s abilities are impaired by either alcohol and/or drugs.
- Repeat Offender: In Georgia, a repeat offender is any driver who has more than one DUI conviction within a five-year period. Repeat offenders face increased penalties, including mandatory jail time.
Do you have questions about the rights of DUI victims in Georgia? Get the answers you need in Atlanta DUI injury attorney Shane Smith’s book, I Was Hit By a Drunk Driver: What Do I Do Next? The book is available free to anyone affected by a Georgia DUI. If you would like to discuss your case with a Georgia drunk-driving victim attorney, contact Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656 and ask to schedule a free legal consultation.