Despite awareness campaigns that advertise the dangers of drunk driving, impaired motorists still contribute to an unacceptable number of deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of road fatalities in 2014 involved drunk drivers. Many survivors face life-changing spinal injuries, cognitive disabilities and chronic pain.
If you were injured by a drunk driver in Georgia, contact the Crosson Law Group, LLC. Ken Crosson is a car accident attorney in Marietta who will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for an injury claim.
Our office is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 678-909-0770 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can also learn more about car accident injury claims by visiting USAttorneys.com.
Read on to learn three sobering facts about drunk driving:
Fact 1: More than 200 children died in alcohol-related crashes in 2013.
This is perhaps the most tragic of all drunk driving statistics: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers were involved in nearly 17 percent of deaths to children younger than 14 years old. This number does not convey the hardship that these families faced in the aftermath of these collisions.
Fact 2: Alcohol contributes to nearly one-fourth of all fatal accidents in Georgia.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, alcohol plays a role in at least 23.9 percent of all traffic deaths in Georgia. Although that is a 6-percent decrease from the year prior to the MADD research, drunk driving still causes an unacceptable number of fatalities on Georgia roads.
Fact 3: Alcohol contributes to nearly one-third of all fatal motorcycle accidents.
Motorcycles are inherently dangerous. Even when riders wear helmets, they are more exposed to the elements than passenger vehicle occupants.
Motorcycles are also relatively small and difficult to see – especially for drunk drivers. Alcohol affects a person’s coordination, decision-making and response time. It can cause drivers to brake late, change lanes without checking their blind spots, and swerve into motorcycle riders.
In a significant portion of alcohol-related motorcycle crashes, the rider is the intoxicated party. In fact, a whopping 29 percent of motorcyclists who died in 2014 were too intoxicated to operate their bikes legally at the time of their deaths.
What Should I Do after a Crash with a Drunk Driver in Georgia?
If you were injured by a drunk motorist, contact the police immediately. Try to take photos at the scene that show the positions of vehicles, injuries, property damage, skid marks, traffic lights and signs, and the weather.
If medical responders arrive, request an evaluation. You should also visit your doctor after the incident.
Record the contact details of eyewitnesses. You should also write down the name, phone number, address, license plate number, registration information, and insurance information of all drivers involved.
Then, contact a car accident attorney to discuss your case. Ken Crosson is a Marietta personal-injury lawyer who is ready to represent your interests.
You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income and noneconomic damages. Call 678-909-0770 to schedule a free initial consultation.