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Don't Be a Victim Twice - If you or a loved one has been injured in an alcohol or drug related crash, call us right now for a free consultation.

Drunk driving is a major cause of serious car accidents in Georgia and throughout the country. In 2008, about 1 in every 3 fatal accidents involved a driver who was legally drunk, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Nationwide, 11,773 alcohol fatalities were recorded among the nation's 37,261. In Georgia, 415 people died in alcohol-related crashes out of the 1,483 traffic fatalities reported.  Mothers Against Drunk Drivers calls it the most frequently committed violent crime in America.

My firm recognizes that in addition to dealing  with injuries sustained in an alcohol-related accident, you are also rightfully angry-you or your loved one has been hurt in a completely preventable accident-an often tragic consequence of another's criminal irresponsibility.  Having an experienced Georgia drunk driver accident attorney to represent your interests will ensure that your rights as a victim are protected.

Drunk drivers are usually prosecuted criminally for their actions.  Driving Under the Influence (DUI) penalties include large fines, fees, and jail time.  In addition, drunk drivers will lose their license to drive for a period of time.  This is the State of Georgia's way of punishing drunk driving. If you have been the victim of a drunk driver, you will have the opportunity to work with the criminal prosecutor at the criminal trial and you will be given the opportunity to let the judge know how the drunk driver's actions have affected you and your family.

You also have a civil damages claim against the drunk driver for your injuries and damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the alcohol impaired driver.  In Georgia, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is evidence of a conscience indifference to the consequences and punitive damages may be sought directly against the driver in addition to attorney's fees and costs associated with bringing the claim.  Punitive damages may or may not be payable from the driver's insurance company depending on the exclusions in the insurance contract.

In addition, you may have a claim against the bar, restaurant or club that over served the drunk driver.  The proprietor has a responsibility to avoid serving alcoholic beverages to a person who is visibly intoxicated. If the intoxicated person is served, and causes a drunk driving accident, the victim can bring a civil claim against the server (and the server's employer) under dram shop liability laws.  If you are involved in a drunk driving accident and a blood alcohol test shows the person was over the legal limit, you do not necessarily have a claim against the bar, restaurant, or individual who provided the beer, wine, or liquor.   You must prove that the server knew, or should have known that the individual was intoxicated when the last alcohol was served and that they were about to drive. When investigating a dram shop claim, witness statements and depositions must be taken as soon as humanly possible to preserve evidence of negligence on the part of the server.

Rest assured that Jason R. Schultz P.C. will aggressively pursue any and all avenues of recovery to help compensate you and your loved ones for the injuries and losses suffered as a consequence of a drunken driving accident.  It is vital that you contact us at (866) 455-4709 right away to protect the rights of you and your family.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

• There were 11,773 drunk driving deaths in 2008.
• 2008 showed a 9.7% decrease from 2007 in alcohol-impaired driving deaths.
• Drunk driving deaths (11,773) accounted for 32% of the total amount of United States car accident deaths (37,261) in 2008.
• 1,347 children ages 14 and younger died as occupants in car accidents in 2008. Of those deaths, 216 (approx 16%) were the direct result of drunk drivers.
• Along with the 1,347 child occupant fatalities, another 34 children died as pedestrians or bikers who were hit by drunk drivers.
• Nighttime drivers were four times more likely to die in drunk driving crashes in 2008 than those driving during the daytime.
• In 2008, weekend drivers were twice as likely to be involved in drinking and driving car crashes than weekday drivers.
• The 21-24 age group accounted for 34% of all alcohol impaired drivers who died in accidents in 2008. The 25-34 demographic accounted for 31%, while those from 35-44 years of age accounted for 25%.
• Despite being under the legal drinking age, American teens from the ages of 16-20 were more likely to be killed while driving under the influence than adults ages 55-64. Teens accounted for 17% of all drivers who were involved in drunk driving crashes, while those from 55-64 accounted for 12%.
• Of the drunk driving crashes where seat belt use was known, nearly 75% of all drunk drivers killed in accidents in 2008 weren't wearing seat belts.
• In the United States, a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher is considered above the legal limit in nearly every state. The most frequently recorded BAC level among drivers who were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving accidents in 2008 was .16, or twice the legal limit.
• Drunk drivers who were over the legal limit when they died in 2008 were eight times more likely to have been previously convicted for drunk driving.
• In 2008, 6,316 passenger vehicle drivers were over the legal limit when car crashes claimed their lives.

10% of all motorcycle fatalities are alcohol related than in any other vehicle. The percentage of bikers with a BAC level of .08 or greater when they died in a crash was higher than the amount of drunk drivers who died while operating other vehicle types.

My firm is dedicated to helping clients recover the maximum amount of financial compensation.  We work to protect your rights and pursue your best interests.  We relieve you of the burden of dealing with the insurance companies so that you can focus on healing from your injuries.  For experienced, effective legal representation, victims of drunk driving accidents in Atlanta and throughout Georgia can rely on Jason R. Schultz, P.C.  Please call us today at (866) 455-4709 for a free consultation.

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