Drunk driving can lead to some of the most catastrophic motor vehicle crashes. Even though there are many steps that can be taken to avoid alcohol related car crashes, they still occur all too frequently. The United States Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that alcohol-impaired driving attributes to almost 30 deaths per day in car crashes in the United States[i]. If a family member or loved one has become part of these statistics due to a negligent drunk driver, we express our deepest condolences.

Alcohol related car crashes accounted for 28% of all “traffic-related” deaths in the United States in 2016. [ii]. In Georgia in the year 2017, there was a total of 366 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. These 366 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for a staggering 23.8% of all fa traffic related fatalities in Georgia in 2017.

Read below to learn about your rights if you have been the victim of a drunk driving car crash.

Signs of an Intoxicated Driver

Often following a car accident with a drunk driver, you may observe signs that the other driver is intoxicated. These signs could include:

  • The scent of alcohol;
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Concentration issues;
  • Speed control problems;
  • Reduced information processing capability;
  • Impaired perception
  • Thick, slurred speech;
  • Loud, noisy speech;
  • Repetitive statements;
  • Rambling train of thought;
  • Bloodshot, glassy, or watery eyes;
  • Aggressiveness or belligerence

These signs certainly do not encompass all of the behaviors that a drunk driver may exhibit, but are certainly some of the most common ones. When consulting an attorney after you have been involved in a car crash, it is important to tell him if you witnessed the other driver exhibiting any of these signs.

Drunk Driving Laws

If a driver is found to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(a)(1)-(4) and it is less safe for that individual to operate a vehicle, or if the person is guilty of violating subsection (a)(5) of the statute (having .08% blood alcohol content), the driver is considered per se negligent as a matter of law and considered to be the proximate cause of any auto collision which he or she actually causes. This means that the driver is legally considered to have caused the collision. Commercial drivers are under stricter rules. In Georgia, state statute O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(i) makes it illegal for a person driving a commercial vehicle to do so with a blood alcohol content of 0.04% or more.

If a family member or loved one has become part of these statistics due to a negligent drunk driver, we express our deepest condolences. Consider the Wolfe Law Group, LLC, Personal Injury Lawyers for your representation if you believe you have been the victim of a drunk driver. Call #(404) 348-0884 for a free consultation to discuss what actions can be taken on your behalf.

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i https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html, accessed May 29, 2019.

ii Id.