When Georgia residents hear about a bad accident involving drinking and driving, it may be natural to imagine that a vehicle operated by an inebriated driver crashed into another. While this is often the case, a drunk driving fatality can also result from a single-vehicle accident. A recent case illustrates the repercussions of how driving under the influence can have especially personal consequences.
Preliminary information establishes that a 20-year-old Georgia man was under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle. After hitting several trees, the vehicle came to rest on an embankment beside the roadway. The driver suffered serious injuries, but his 20-year-old female passenger fared far worse. She was killed as a result of injuries suffered in the crash. Police say she was thrown from the vehicle as it spun out of control.
After being treated for his injuries, the driver was arrested and taken to jail. He is facing serious criminal charges, including first-degree vehicular homicide, driving on an expired permit, DUI, and an open container violation. Georgia’s zero-tolerance law prohibits drivers under the age of 21 from having a blood alcohol concentration exceeding .02.
Even if a person is facing criminal charges related to drunk driving, the family of a deceased victim may want to take action of their own on behalf of their lost loved ones. A successful civil case may result in a monetary judgment that a family can use to cover things like final expenses, outstanding medical bills, and pain and suffering for surviving loved ones that are struggling to come to terms with a sudden and preventable death. Anyone interested in a civil action against a Georgia drunk driver needs to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to explore the options for legal recourse.
For more information on how Dozier Law Firm can help you recover from car and truck accidents near Atlanta, pedestrian accidents, slips and falls, wrongful deaths, dog bites, and more, call one of our locations in Macon (478-742-8441), Savannah (912-239-4395), Albany-Tifton (229-299-9590), or Atlanta (404-800-0308). You can also visit us online at https://dozierlaw.com/.
