According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,597 people were killed in United States traffic accidents in December 2010. Of those, 775 deaths involved alcohol-impaired drivers. A 2006 study by the NHTSA estimated that there is one drunk driving fatality in the United States every 30 minutes.
Georgia's Driving Under the Influence Laws are complex. Clayton County DUI injury attorney Shane Smith can sort through the intermingled laws that potentially create complications in a DUI case.
According to a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) study, DUI claims often lead to a more significant recovery than other accident claims. It is theorized that when a case goes to trial, sympathetic and angry juries are more likely to rule in a victim's favor and grant harsh punitive damages. This may be because drinking and driving is not only viewed as a negative stigma but also because the risks are widely known.
Georgia law allows auto accident victims to recover compensatory damages for lost wages and medical expenses. It also allows for punitive damages, which punish the responsible party for his wrongdoing. The study indicated that jury awards and settlement amounts in DUI accidents are statistically higher than other auto accidents.
If you have questions about Georgia DUI laws, get the answers in Clayton County DUI injury attorney Shane Smith's book, I Was Hit By a Drunk Driver: What Do I Do Next? Contact Shane Smith Law to schedule a free legal consultation.