Georgia Injury Law Blog

In 2010, there was a record drop in auto accident deaths from the previous year. However, the number of people dying in pedestrian accidents actually increased.

Last year, 32,885 people died in auto accidents across the United States. That was a drop of 2.9% from 2009. These were the lowest traffic accident death numbers on record since 1949. These accident fatality numbers have declined even as the number of miles being driven by American motorists increased in 2010. In fact, there was a drop in almost all categories of car accident deaths last year, including drunk driving accidents. 

However, pedestrians were not safer in 2010. Pedestrian accident deaths actually increased last year by about 4.2% from 2009. Further, the number of persons who suffered a personal injury in pedestrian accidents in the United States increased by a staggering 19 %. Overall, more than 70,000 pedestrians were injured in accidents last year. That increase is puzzling considering that it comes after 4 straight years of declining pedestrian accident death numbers in the US. 

Federal transportation officials do not have any explanation for this increase in pedestrian accident fatality numbers. However, the data is still new, and we may have more answers in the months ahead.   There are some theories about the reasons for this increase. According to Transportation for America, a pedestrian advocacy organization, there has been an increase in the number of people walking and biking to work in recent months. However, even though there has been an increase in the number of pedestrians, safety conditions have not really improved. 

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Pedestrian accidents | 0 Comments Permalink

A school bus driver who was caught driving under the influence in another state underscores to Atlanta bus accident lawyers the challenges involved in keeping children safe on school buses. Importantly, school districts must be extremely diligent in hiring bus qualified drivers or they risk serious injuries to children and claims for negligent hiring and retention.  A New Jersey school bus driver was arrested on charges of driving under the influence.  That on its own may not have been a media- worthy event, except for the fact that it was the children on the school bus who called and informed their parents about the driver’s intoxicated behavior. 

Parents received calls from their children on the bus, who noted that their driver was driving erratically and was dozing off at the wheel.  The frantic parents called the school, and school authorities got in touch with the police.  The driver, Carole Crockett was later arrested.  She has been charged with DUI with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, disorderly conduct and a number of other charges. 

Police conducted breath tests, and found that Crockett registered at a startling .25% on the test.  She is a commercial bus driver, and therefore, her maximum allowed BAC level is .04%, compared to the .08% that is allowed for other motorists.  On a side note, this is one instance where Atlanta car accident lawyers are really glad that the children on the school bus happened to have their cell phones with them and used them.  With a BAC concentration of .25%, it's highly likely that this driver would have caused an accident.

There are lessons from this incident for schools and bus drivers in the state of Georgia too.  When parents drop children off at a bus stop, they don't expect to entrust their child to a person who is too intoxicated to see straight.  School districts, boards and schools must take their responsibility to higher competent drivers for their buses very seriously.  There is a significant risk of accidents and personal injury when a commercial bus or truck driver is driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.  This is the reason why there are stricter blood-alcohol limit rules for commercial drivers.

Posted By Robert Katz In Bus accidents , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

A police officer was killed, and another person suffered personal injury in a car accident that police are now blaming on a wrong way driver. The crash occurred on westbound interstate-20 early in the morning. 

According to DeKalb police, the driver of a westbound vehicle crashed into a sports utility vehicle that was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. The driver of the westbound car sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The wrong way driver also suffered injuries in the auto accident.

Investigations into the car accident have begun, and investigators now believe that the driver of the sport-utility vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction. These investigations are likely to also include blood-alcohol tests to determine if the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Many wrong-way driving accidents that Atlanta car accident attorneys come across involve people who have been driving under the influence of alcohol, and make a wrong turn. In fact, according to some estimates, alcohol use is a factor in between 50% and 70% of all wrong way driving accidents.

Posted By Robert Katz In Accidental Deaths , Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

A driver alleged to have been driving in the wrong direction has been critically injured in an auto accident northeast of Atlanta. The car accident occurred on Interstate-85 when a motorist driving a Ford Explorer began driving south in the northbound lanes of interstate-85. At some point, the female motorist struck a tractor-trailer, and then hit another commercial truck and a van. The impact caused the motorist to be ejected from the Ford Explorer, and she sustained critical injuries. No other people were injured in this accident. Police believe that alcohol was a factor here, and that the woman was driving under the influence. As all personal injury attorneys know, if a car accident involves a serious personal injury, alcohol is very likely involved.

According to azcentral.com, in the year 2009, 1,772 people died in accidents involving the wrong way driver. In all these accidents, a driver drove on the wrong side of the road, or towards oncoming traffic. 2009 had the highest number of wrong way driving deaths in five years.

The national focus on wrong way driving and its lethal impact spiked after a New York accident blamed on a wrong way driver killed eight people. In July 2009, a Long Island resident was driving her SUV in the opposite direction, when her vehicle crashed into an oncoming car. The woman and four children in her car died in the accident. The three occupants of the car also died. It was later found that the woman had been driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. She had a large number of drinks and had used marijuana before she began driving that day.

In fact, this is a common pattern that Atlanta car accident lawyers find in accidents related to wrong way driving. Most of the time, these drivers are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and miss signs or make wrong entrances. Other times, wrong way driving is the result of a medical condition when a person feels confused or disoriented at the wheel, and makes an error. A driver who is traveling in a new neighborhood or is new to the city may also be likely to make mistakes, although adequate signage can help reduce the occurrence of errors. Additionally, serious driving errors can also be made if state and local transportation safety agencies have not maintained adequate signage, leading to confusion and mistakes. According to some studies, most drivers quickly realize their error, and turn around to avoid an accident. However, many continue to drive, with serious consequences.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Vampires and ghouls were not the only scary beings on the streets this past Halloween. Both pedestrian trick-or-treaters and motorists were at a high risk of car accidents involving intoxicated drivers on Halloween. The Governors Highway Safety Association warned of an increase in accidents involving drunk drivers in Atlanta over the holiday.

The Governors Highway Safety Association joined state and local highway safety agencies to crack down on drunk drivers. Local law enforcement officers ran an intensified campaign aimed at pulling drunk drivers off the streets before they caused an accident, and injure or kill someone. Drunk driving accidents result in a significant number of serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, close to 50% of auto accident fatalities that occurred on Halloween night involved a drunk motorist. In these cases, the motorist had a blood-alcohol concentration of .08% or higher.  Every year, the period between 6 PM on October 31 and 5:59 AM on November 1 is a highly dangerous time for pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers in Atlanta.

Halloween is typically a more dangerous time for pedestrians, because of the higher numbers of pedestrians on the streets. However, for a motorist driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, these accident hazards become heightened. Consider that many pedestrians out on Halloween will be young children below the age of 12, dressed to the nines and out trick-or-treating. Many of these children will be wearing dark clothing that may render them invisible at night. Moreover, safety is the last thing on the mind for many trick-or-treaters, or even adult drivers rushing to a Halloween party. Now, consider the increased accident risks when you introduce a drunk driver into this situation. 

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

A Georgia strip club has been ordered to pay $1.75 million in damages to the family of a mother who was killed in a wrong-way crash in 2008. This past Thursday, a jury found that the club negligently over-served the drunk driver alcohol shortly before the accident. Liability of this nature falls under Georgia's dram shop law. It was an accident that claimed his life and the lives of two others, including a young mother, Fatima Bird. While it was never determined exactly how many drinks the club patron had, reports show his blood alcohol level was nearly five times the legal limit. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes attorney Trent Speckhals, of Speckhals Law, who goes so far as to say, "It's not like someone would be unnoticeable in that condition." Other experienced Atlanta car accident attorneys are likely to agree. With a BAC of nearly .4, there had to have been a notable loss of control over both cognitive and physical functions, which would have been obvious to the average passerby, much less to a waitress or staff members who had contact with the driver throughout the duration of his club visit.

This case again brings attention to the debate of whether “dram shops” should be held liable for failing to “take the keys” from patrons who appear to be intoxicated or have consumed one too many alcoholic beverages. And again, the jury’s response to this question seems to be a resounding yes. Originally, the term "dram shop" referred to colonial times when taverns used units of liquid measurement called drams to serve alcohol. Today, dram shop liability in Georgia means that that bars, taverns, liquor stores, and other businesses (including grocery and convenience stores) that purvey alcoholic beverages may be held liable for the damages caused by their patrons.

The Dram Shop Act and similar laws are meant to curb instances of selling alcohol to minors and to individuals who are visibly intoxicated. It appears to be a broad and far-reaching theory that reaches even into the recesses of private homes as even owners or social hosts who serve alcohol to guests at a private party, have a responsibility to avoid serving alcoholic beverages to a person who is visibly intoxicated.

However, be advised that just because you may have been involved in an accident where the driver had a blood alcohol level that is over the limit, does not necessarily mean that you will automatically have an additional claim against the entity that served the liquor, beer or wine. It is necessary to first demonstrate that the server knew, or should have known that the patron was intoxicated upon serving the last alcoholic beverage. This standard is commonly known as a “constructive” or “implied” standard.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

The White House is collaborating with Mothers against Drunk Driving in a new initiative to reduce the number of fatal auto accidents caused every year by drivers under the influence of drugs. While intoxicated driving gets more than its share of attention, as personal injury attorneys have observed, the fact is that the number of car accidents involving drugged motorists has been steadily increasing. Auto accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs often result in severe personal injury and wrongful death.

The new initiative was launched by the National Drug Control Policy and Mothers against Drunk Driving. The partnership will increase awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs. According to Mothers against Drunk Driving, it has already launched a nationwide campaign against driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. MADD is also pushing for tougher law enforcement to enforce laws against driving under the influence of narcotics. The drug control policy office will also be releasing educational materials about the dangers of drugged driving, targeted at parents and teenagers.

Driving under the influence of drugs has an adverse effect on a motorist’s driving abilities. These effects are similar to the effects of intoxicated driving. A motorist’s judgment and abilities may be impacted, and his responses may be weakened. Additionally, drugs can affect a person's motor abilities and his coordination, impacting his driving. 

The time is right for an initiative like this. According to the drug policy office, 3,952 drivers who were killed in car accidents in 2009 tested positive for drugs. Drivers under the age of 25 were at the highest risk of drugged driving. One out of every four drivers killed in car accidents linked to drugged driving belonged to this age group. That accounts for 18% of all fatalities that year. 

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

The threat of car accidents caused by drunk driving has declined over the past few years, but as Atlanta car accident attorneys, we know that intoxicated driving is still a major factor in auto accidents across the state.  These accidents often result in severe personal injuries and wrongful death. Therefore, it is good to see that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is continuing to focus on minimizing the threat from intoxicated drivers. The agency is investing in the development of an in-car device that will help detect alcohol levels on a motorist.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investing $2.2 million in the development of the in-vehicle touch-based alcohol testing device. The agency, through the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety has invested in a company called TruTouch Technologies. This company says that it has developed the world's first touch-based alcohol detection device that can be installed in vehicles. 

The device can be used to detect alcohol on a motorist through infrared light. All that the motorist has to do is place his finger on the infrared sensor device, and the device detects alcohol levels within seconds. If the device finds that the alcohol content is beyond a specified limit, then it will disable the starter, preventing drivers from driving the car. What's more, the device will prevent tampering with the system by recording the person’s biometric information, so that another person cannot use the device to cheat the system. 

These devices are somewhat similar to ignition interlock devices that are currently mandated in the vehicles of certain drunk driving offenders in some states. These devices however, require a motorist to blow into them. If the device finds that the motorist’s breath exceeds a specified alcohol level, then the device shuts down the engine, preventing the driver from starting the car. In many states, these devices are mandated in the vehicles of repeat DUI offenders, although some states also require them to be used in the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

While intoxicated driving as a factor in auto accidents has declined, Atlanta car accident lawyers find that it still continues to be a major cause of teen-related accidents. A teen motorist, who was driving the car involved in an accident that killed a teenage passenger, has pleaded guilty to charges of drunken driving and vehicular homicide.

The teen driver was 17 years old at the time of the accident. He was driving with two teenagers in his car, when his car flipped over. A sixteen-year-old teenage passenger was killed in the accident and another teenager was seriously injured. Last week, the driver pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving and vehicle manslaughter, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

The three teenagers had been at a party in Douglasville, where a lot of teenagers were drinking alcohol. Several people have already been charged with supplying alcohol to minors in this case. According to authorities, many of these people supplied alcohol to teenagers at two different parties that the victim attended on the night of the accident. 

Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 in the United States. The number of teenagers dying in accidents has remained more or less consistent, even as the overall number of people dying in traffic accidents has dropped.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

A former Atlanta lawyer, who was involved in a deadly drunk driving accident that killed one person, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Car accidents of this nature often end tragically with a severe personal injury or wrongful death. Of course, this particular accident was clearly preventable and should never have occurred.

The accident occurred on October 1, 2006 when the man ran a red light and crashed into a taxicab.   The crash killed a thirty-one-year-old woman and left two men severely injured. The victim left behind a three-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

The lawyer pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle while driving under the influence. It later emerged that he had four prior DUI offenses on his record. In fact, on the day of the accident, he was on probation from a previous DUI, and had been ordered not to drive.

In the year 2009, there were 1,284 traffic accident fatalities in the state of Georgia. Out of these, 394 deaths occurred in drunk driving accidents. That is approximately 31% of traffic accident fatalities traced to drivers under the influence of alcohol. Out of these, 331 deaths involved accidents in which the driver was driving with an alcohol level of or greater than .08%, which is the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. 

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

In effect in Washington as of July 22 of this year, “Hailey’s Law”   mandates that law enforcement officials must impound the car of a person arrested for impaired driving – in most cases for at least 12 hours.The only exception is if the person arrested for driving while under the influence isn’t actually the registered owner of the car. In cases like that one, the registered owner will be allowed to retrieve their vehicle from the scene.  Wrongful deaths and DUI accidents go hand in hand and this law will clearly reduce the number of persons unnecessarily dying due to these accidents.

The circumstances surrounding the incident further explain why the law has been hailed as a breakthrough regulation by many personal injury attorneys, who hope to see the law being picked up by other states and foresee its enforcement successfully increasing the safety of the state’s public highways.

The law is named for Hailey French, a woman who was severely injured in a head-on collision. The driver responsible had been arrested for DUI and released by law enforcement officers less than two hours earlier. The lawsuit brought against the driver and Washington officials alleged that officers failed to install a court-ordered alcohol ignition interlock device in the driver’s car after her previous DUI arrest.  Instead, the arresting officer drove her home, and handed her the car keys with a warning to sober up. After he left, the drunk driver took a taxi back to her car, got back on the road, and crossed the center line before hitting Hailey French. 

 “We all know to take away the keys of a person who is drunk. This law, finally, does that,” said French’s attorney, Dean Brett.    As a  car accident attorney in Atlanta  who is well-versed with the statistics of fatality car crashed involving DUIs, I would have to agree. It’s definitely a move that jails both the drunk driver and his mode of transportation. The 12 hour impound requirement, in theory, really forces the driver to take time to “cool off” and sober up before getting back behind the wheel and on the road. I would suggest that the period should probably be at least 24 hours and the person should have to undergo a breathalyzer before getting the keys back.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 1 Comments Permalink

On July 5, by a vote of 6-1, Georgia’s Supreme Court found a convenience store could be held liable for selling alcohol to a man who was responsible for a fatal car accident. Initially, the trial court granted the store’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the beverage was not sold to be consumed on the premises, reports the Associated Press. This seems to be an assumption the consumer was unaware of – at the time of the auto accident, and only four hours after buying a twelve-pack of beer from Exprezit!, his blood alcohol content was a whopping 0.181, more than twice the legal limit.

As a car accident attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, I come into contact with similar claims involving drunk drivers. When I heard about this particular ruling, I immediately honed in on the fact that the man was said to be visibly intoxicated at the time the alcohol was purchased. Another article by The Florida Times-Union notes the Court’s application of the “dram shop act” to its reasoning. The law states that anyone who knowingly sells or provides alcohol to someone who is noticeably intoxicated while knowing that the person will soon be driving may be liable if the alcohol is the direct cause of an injury.

In his opinion for the majority, Justice Hugh Thompson reasoned that the act was all-inclusive, meaning that it was intended to encompass the sale of alcohol at places other than the “proverbial dram shop” or bar. On the other hand, Justice Robert Benham, dissenting, concluded this was an unfair interpretation of the act because clerks at grocery stores and convenience stores often experience a lesser degree of interaction with patrons. Ostensibly, he claims, this affords them little opportunity to really judge the sobriety customers.

While I do understand Justice Benham’s concerns, I would have to disagree. In my opinion it often only takes a few seconds to assess soberness. Slurred words and instability, along with many other factors, are often a good indicator that someone may be impaired. In light of the fact that this particular culprit’s blood alcohol content exceeded the limit immediately after the crash, the clerk serving him at Exprezit! was probably given reason to pause. For this reason, Justice Benham is right on another point; the implications of this decision could definitely be far-reaching. Small businesses that were previously impervious to liability may now be much more susceptible to such claims.

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Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

The death of a popular TV/movie star last month in a fiery drunk driving accident should serve as a reminder to Atlanta residents - avoid driving under the influence of alcohol at all costs. The worst car accidents often involve not only someone driving drunk, but someone driving drunk and performing stunts.

Ryan Dunn, the star of the popular “Jackass” movies was killed in a car accident that occurred in Pennsylvania. Dunn was traveling with his passenger and friend, when the car crashed. The vehicle exploded in flames, and both occupants were killed instantly. Tests later determined that the star had been driving with blood alcohol concentration level of more than twice the .08% DUI Limit. 

Drinking over and above capacity seems to have been a factor in the accident. Just a few minutes before the accident, Dunn had Tweeted a picture of him and his friends having a few drinks at the bar. According to staff at the bar, Dunn only bought about 8 beverages, but was served several alcoholic drinks by fans at the bar who wanted to buy him drinks. In fact, police believe that it was these last few drinks that he had that helped send his blood-alcohol levels over the edge.

This summer, Atlanta car accident attorneys expect to see more numbers of accidents involving motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol. Coincidently, there have been a number of studies coming out about the devastating impact that even a few drinks can have. The same month that Ryan Dunn died in a high-profile drunk driving accident, researchers released the findings of a study which found that even motorists driving under the influence of a couple of drinks, can be impaired enough to cause an accident that ends with serious injuries. Researchers found that the extent and severity of injuries in an accident increases even when a motorist is driving under the legal limit. 

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Very often motorists involved in car accidents believe their ability to drive was unaffected because they had had just a couple of drinks. Unfortunately, their belief is incorrect and dangerous. A new study confirms the reason why so many serious accidents occur even when motorists are driving with a blood alcohol level below the .08% limit. 

According to the study, a person may be at risk of causing auto accidents with serious injuries even when he's driving with barely traceable alcohol levels in his blood. The researchers analyzed accident data involving 1.5 million people. The researchers focused on those accidents involving the most serious injuries, and compared them to those accidents in which the injuries were relatively minor.

They found that accidents, in which the person was driving even with a .01% concentration of alcohol in his blood, were more likely to end in seriously injurious accidents than those accidents involving sober motorists. Specifically, accidents seemed to be at least 36.6% more severe when one of the motorists was driving under the influence of barely traceable levels of alcohol. In comparison, accidents were much less injurious, when the persons involved were not driving under the influence of alcohol in their system. This indicates that even a single alcoholic beverage can be sufficient to impair a person seriously enough to cause an accident that ends with serious injuries. Atlanta drunk driving accident attorneys  have observed these issues for years, but it’s good to have a study to confirm our experience.

In order to avoid accidents like this, Atlanta car accident attorneys strongly advise refraining from drinking if you plan to drive. A BAC level even below the .08% limit could affect your ability to drive, and you may not even be aware of it. A designated driver can be a great help when you plan to drink. Wealso find many people who may not be aware of their low capacity for alcohol, with possibly dangerous consequences when the person is driving after having a drink or two. 

The study specifically points to the increased risk of injuries when a person is driving under the influence of alcohol, but Atlanta car accident attorneys have been aware of the high risk of accidents from drunk driving for years now. Drunk driving accidents typically tend to be high-impact accidents, because these very often involve speeding and reckless driving. 

A person driving under the influence of alcohol is likely to be feeling lightheaded and buzzed, and is more likely to shed his inhibitions. He may be more prone to reckless and aggressive driving practices. These can include not just speeding, but also driving through red lights, and failure to obey traffic laws. Driving under the influence can also contribute to fatigue and drowsiness, further increasing the person's risk of an accident. Additionally, driving under the influence of alcohol increases a person's risk of undesirable driving behaviors, like inattention, running red lights and distracted driving. All of this increases a person's risk of being involved in a serious or even fatal accident. See, Small Amount of Alcohol Can Impair Driving.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Yet another study indicates increased car accident risks when people are driving under the influence of drugs. A new study that has just been published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs has found that a quarter of about 44,000 American drivers, who were involved in fatal accidents between 1998 and 2009, had drugs in their system at the time of the accident. 

The researchers analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. They found that in approximately a quarter of the fatal accidents during this period of time, the motorist tested positive for drugs, while 37% had blood-alcohol levels greater than the .08% legally allowed limit. The most common drugs that were involved in fatal accidents were amphetamines, marijuana and cocaine. One of the first thing Car accident attorneys look for in any wrongful death accident is the involvement of drugs or alcohol.

Certain drugs seem to be linked to certain kinds of reckless driving practices. For instance, stimulants were linked to most wrongful death accidents, especially those that involve speeding, inattention, and failure to obey traffic laws. Stimulants were also linked to accidents in which occupants were not wearing seat belts. On the other hand, marijuana was most often linked to failure to wear seatbelts, and driving at excessive speeds.

The researchers also looked at accidents that involved the use of both drugs and alcohol, and found that a combination of drugs and alcohol did not seem to increase the risks of impaired driving. When the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol alone, then alcohol was the main contributing factor in the impaired driving, and it did not really matter if the driver had been using other drugs too. The effect of drugs only seems to kick in if the driver had not been drinking alcohol.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Atlanta truck accident lawyers have been aware for a while now that federal trucking safety laws governing drug and alcohol use by truck drivers have far too many loopholes that allow a truck driver with a drug use history, to slip through. The new bill would plug these loopholes, essentially weeding out drug users from the system. Truck accidents generally result in severe personal injuries and a wrongful death. When these accidents involve a truck driver who has been using drugs or alcohol, the outcome is not only tragic, but preventable.

The legislation, called the Safe Roads Act, has been introduced by US Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman. The legislation would implement the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, advising the establishment of a driver test database. The database would contain information about positive drug test results from commercial truck and bus drivers from around the country. 

The database can be used by trucking companies before they hire a prospective employee. Doctors, trucking companies and service agents would be required to furnish updated and accurate information about positive drug test results. With accurate, reliable and frequently updated information available, trucking companies would be able to make safe hiring decisions, thereby reducing the risk of trucking accidents involving one of their vehicles.

Currently, truck drivers with a drug use history are able to find employment because they conceal this information from their future employers. Often, trucking companies do not have access to the information they need to hire a safer driver. Both of these problems can be solved with the establishment of the database. 

Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at a high risk of drug use and abuse. The trucking industry has always denied that there's a problem with truck drivers who are able to find jobs at trucking companies even with a prior history of drug use. However, Atlanta truck accident attorneys have been aware for a while that the current system is rife with loopholes that fail to keep such drivers out of the system.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

As Atlanta car accident lawyers, we often notice that wrong way driving accidents are some of the deadliest collisions. These accidents typically involve one car traveling at highway speeds in the direction of other vehicles that are also traveling at the same level of speed. Such accidents are typically high-impact accidents that end with multiple deaths or serious injuries. An accident over the weekend in Gwinnett County, Georgia  that killed one person and left two others with critical injuries, is being blamed on a wrong way driver.

The accident occurred on Saturday night, and involved a total of three vehicles. According to Gwinnett County police, a car traveling the wrong way veered across the median and crashed head-on into another vehicle. The car then flipped over, and crashed into a third vehicle. A woman was killed in the accident. Two other people, including the wrong way driver, suffered critical injuries. Police are investigating the accident, but no charges have been filed yet. Police are considering the possibility that the wrong way driver may have been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Every year, approximately 300 people are killed in accidents caused by wrong way motorists. Many of these accidents are caused because motorists are driving under the influence of alcohol, and end up traveling in the opposite direction. Alcohol use is the most common cause of wrong way driving. It's not so surprising to Atlanta car accident attorneys that alcohol use is so often cited in wrong way driving. Alcohol use clouds a person's judgment, blurs his vision and affects his powers of reasoning. A person like this is also likely to miss highway street signs, ending with him driving in the opposite direction.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 1 Comments Permalink

Has all the focus on teen and elder drivers affected traffic safety for other groups of motorists? That's the question that Atlanta car accident attorneys are asking this week after Edmunds.com released its analysis of car accident data. Even as the numbers of people dying in auto accidents across the country has been declining over the past decade, there has been an actual increase in the numbers of male car accident deaths in the 51 to 65 age group.

The data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the analysis, the number of male and female car accident deaths in other age groups has been steadily declining over the past few years. Even drunk driving accident deaths have declined over the past five years, helped by a lowered tolerance to intoxicated driving, and stronger enforcement. However according to the data, the number of adult males aged between 51 and 65 years killed in auto accidents, increased by almost 25% between 2000 and 2009. In comparison, car accident deaths for all male drivers during the same period of time declined by more than 20%. Even auto accident deaths for female drivers declined by about 20% during the study period.

According to the analysts, it's not just the increase in male car accident deaths in this age group that is concerning, but also the fact that much of this increase is related to drunk driving accidents. In fact, when it comes to drunk driving accident deaths, there has been an increase in fatalities among both men and women in this age group. The number of annual DUI deaths among baby boomers increased by 37% between 2000 and 2009. During the same period of time, rates of drunk driving accident fatalities across the country dropped by almost 7%.

Much of the attention on traffic safety has focused on teen and young drivers. However, this analysis seems to indicate that older motorists, who should know better, are failing to follow the advice that they dole out to youngsters.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

As an Atlanta injury lawyer,  I often find that a significant number of wrongful deaths and serious personal injuries arise from drunk driving accidents involving repeat offenders. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the use of ignition interlock devices is successful in preventing repeat drunk driving. Such prevention would unquestionably result in a reduction in drunk driving accidents, injuries and deaths. Each and every Atlanta injury lawyer should advocate for the use of these devices.

The study found that recidivism rates for DUI dropped by approximately 67% when ignition interlock devices were used. Many states including Georgia, have adopted alcohol ignition interlock devices as part of their efforts against DUI. In Georgia, persons convicted of DUI can be ordered by courts to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles if they have prior DUI convictions too. The device requires drivers to blow into it, and measures the alcohol on his breath. If the alcohol content is found to be excessive, the device prevents the motorist from starting the engine. The researchers say that these devices are so useful in preventing drunk driving accidents, that they should be made a mandatory part of DUI prevention efforts around the country. As an injury lawyer, I couldn’t agree more.

Ignition interlock devices receive a lot of criticism from DUI attorneys and the beverage industry. However, these devices have become more sophisticated, accurate and reliable over the years. It's much harder to “fool” an ignition interlock system now than it used to be a couple of years ago. Some devices require the user to hum while breathing into the tube. 

The most effective way to prevent drunk drivers from attempting to drive in an intoxicated state again, is to simply shut the engine down if they are intoxicated. No engine, no accidents. License suspensions, fines and penalties have a very limited effect on reducing DUI recidivism rates.  

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 2 Comments Permalink

Memorial signs to auto accident and truck accident victims have been used around the country not just to commemorate the dead, but also serve as a warning to the living. As Atlanta auto accident lawyers, we believe that such stark signs help increase motorist awareness of the dangers of reckless driving and, therefore, help to decrease the number of auto accidents and truck accidents. The Georgia Department of Transportation has now announced that it will allow memorials to auto accident victims to be placed on federal and state highways.

Another program that allows highway memorial signs bearing the names of drunk driving accident victims on Georgia highways, is already in effect. That program was created through the efforts of the Department of Transportation, the Georgia Gen. Assembly and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in 2006. That program is separate from this new memorial sign program, and will continue as scheduled.

The new memorials will consist of 15- inch round, white signs containing the message Drive Safely: in Memory (name of the deceased). Families and friends of accident victims can request a sign for a $100 fee that will go towards installation and fabrication charges. The sign will be in place for a period of one year, after which it will be returned to the sponsor of the sign. However, families can only order these memorial signs through the Department of Transportation.

Families and friends of those killed in auto accidents or truck accidents on or after July 1, 2010, can make a request for the memorial signs by submitting an application, the accident report as well as the hundred dollar fee to the maintenance engineer at the DOT. The signs will be erected as close as practically possible to the site of the accident.

The memorial signs serve a dual purpose- they comfort the loved ones of victims killed in accidents, and also serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of recklessness, drunk driving and speeding on our highways.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Truck Accidents | 0 Comments Permalink

The motorist, who was convicted of DUI (driving under the influence) and causing a wrong way driving auto accident that killed a woman on an Atlanta highway, will spend 10 years in prison. The motorist Theus Monroe was driving the wrong way on Interstate 85 in December 2009, when his vehicle crashed head-on into another vehicle. In that vehicle was Jazmine Zachary, who sustained fatal injuries in the crash. She was 25 years old at the time of her wrongful death. An investigation later revealed that Monroe was not only driving under the influence of alcohol, but was also high on drugs at the time of the car accident.

A Fulton County judge this week sentenced Monroe to a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. However, Monroe will only serve 10 years, and have an additional year of drug rehabilitation. The sentence was a bit of a disappointment for the victim’s family who wanted that Monroe be ordered to serve the entire 17 years.

Atlanta car accident attorneys often see that intoxicated driving is the main factor in accidents caused by motorists driving the wrong way. These are typically fatal accidents, or high-impact  auto accidents that end with serious injuries. Drivers, who are in the path of a motorist traveling the wrong way, don't expect to see a driver headed in their direction, which takes them by surprise, leaving them with no time to avoid the wrong way driver. The potential for severe injuries and fatalities also increases because these are typically high-speed, full impact, head-on crashes. Wrong way driving accidents are also sometimes linked to drowsiness, when motorists miss a sign or signal because they are dozing off at the wheel.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

Four people have been reported injured in a drunk driving accident in Atlanta on Saturday morning. According to the Atlanta Police Department, a motorist driving a minivan under the influence, caused the auto accident when she struck another car head-on at about 4.15 am. The accident caused a massive wreckage, leaving four people trapped in the car. Rescuers had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the four people. The woman driving the minivan has been charged with driving under the influence and other charges.

Accidents like these cause Atlanta car accident attorneys to hope for in-car alcohol detection devices to be available in the market as quickly as possible. Last week saw the demonstration of an alcohol detection device prototype in Massachusetts. The demonstration, which was attended by the chiefs of the US Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was impressive. A woman, who had consumed two alcoholic beverages, was able to demonstrate how the device detected her blood-alcohol levels through the use of breath and touch sensors. These sensors were strategically positioned inside the car, in areas where a person is likely to place his hand, like on the steering wheel. The prototype is designed to shut the engine down, preventing the motorist from driving when his blood alcohol level scores above or at the .08 legally allowed limit.

There are no plans to make such devices mandatory in all vehicles, as we had blogged about earlier. However, if these devices are found to be successful in lowering drunk driving accident rates, insurance companies may offer lowered premiums to motorists who get these devices installed in their cars.

As this particular auto accident in Atlanta shows, drunk driving is a serious problem in our city, and we need new tools to fight this menace.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

This could be the future of ignition interlock devices in Atlanta. Soon, Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers may come across cars equipped with breath and touch sensors that automatically detect the blood-alcohol level on a motorist, and prevent the car from starting if his blood alcohol level is at or above the legally allowed .08% limit. Such devices will go a long way in preventing DUI accidents. Last week, representatives of the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attended the demonstration of an alcohol detection prototype in Massachusetts.

The demonstration involved a young woman who drank two alcoholic beverages. The beverages were consumed with cheese and crackers, in an attempt to replicate the kind of drinking that takes place in a social setting. The woman then demonstrated by breath and touch how the device can detect blood alcohol levels. Transportation Sec. LaHood, who attended the demonstration, was sufficiently impressed with the device, and called it a new arrow in the quiver of automotive safety.

At the very outset, the Transportation Secretary admitted that there were no plans to make a device like this mandatory in all vehicles. In fact, a device like this will not be commercially available for the next eight years at least. However, as Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers, we suspect that when insurance companies find lower drunk driving accident rates among motorists who have such sensors in their vehicles, they will offer low premiums for motorists who choose to have the sensors installed in their car.

It's too early for Atlanta car accident lawyers to tell yet how successful or reliable this device will be. However, assuming that it is reliable, this is a device that will probably find greater acceptability among the general motorist population, than ignition interlock devices have. This device doesn't require motorists to breathe into it, and is therefore less intrusive than ignition interlock systems.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

The state of Georgia ranks at number 32 in a USA Today compilation of states based on auto accident death rate per 100,000 population. In 2009, 1,284 people died in car accidents in Georgia, and the state had a death rate per 100,000 population of 13.1. That is much above the national average of 11 per 100,000 population. Of course, a significant number of deaths generally occur in urban areas such as Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia and other states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Delaware with strong rural neighborhoods seem to have high death rates in car accidents. The reason for this, according to the USA Today report, could be the fact that many of the states with significant numbers of wrongful deaths due to car accidents have large rural communities.

Most of the traffic in rural communities plies on two-lane roads. These roads typically tend to be poorly designed, and lack the safety enhancements and engineering that make urban roads safer. It's no coincidence that the states that have featured at the top of the list (ie: least deaths), like Washington DC and Massachusetts have more urban roads.

It's not just bad roads in rural communities in Georgia that increase the auto accident wrongful death rate. It's also the fact that these roads see more numbers of drunk drivers. Part of the reason is that the Georgia Highway Patrol conducts fewer crackdowns in rural communities because of strained resources. There are only so many officers that the Highway Patrol can dedicate toanti-drunk driving crackdowns, seatbelt campaigns and other initiatives that promote safety. Fewer officers are posted in rural areas, leading to more numbers of drunk driving accidents, and preventable deaths from failure to wear seat belts.

Besides, Atlanta car accident attorneys believe that the high death rate in rural areas across Georgia is due to the paucity of trauma care facilities. The average accident victim a few hundred miles from Atlanta may have little chance of surviving an accident simply because he cannot be brought to a trauma care center in time.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI , Wrongful Death | 0 Comments Permalink

One of the most serious and deadliest types of auto accidents is the DUI accident. Unfortunately, holidays result in a significant increase in DUI accidents. If Atlanta auto accident attorneys wanted more proof about the increased drunk driving hazards on New Year's, the American Automobile Association has more evidence. According to a survey conducted by the AAA, a person's risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident increases by 150% on New Year's Day.

It's never been a secret that drunk driving hazards increase over New Year's, already believed to be one of the most alcohol-heavy holidays of the year. However, the AAA survey puts those hazards in grim perspective. If you are out driving over New Year's this weekend, your likelihood of being involved in a fatal accident increases by 150%.

That number is not a joke. It's very important not only to understand that driving under the influence is foolish behavior for you, but also to watch out for other intoxicated motorists around you. You may not be able to control other people's driving behavior, but you can increase your own chances of surviving an accident. Wear your seatbelts, switch off your cell phones, and maintain low speeds as you drive over the New Year's holiday. Avoid busy roads and highways over the holiday.

The AAA survey also points to the kind of disconnect that exists between awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, and actual public behavior. In spite of the fact that most Americans are aware of the dangers of drunk driving, too many of them admit to driving under the influence. It's hard to understand what else can be done, besides passing of stronger DUI laws, to minimize the numbers of intoxicated motorists further.

This New Year's, we would like all of our readers to stay sober and stay safe.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

More than a week to go for Christmas, and already Atlanta car accident lawyers have noticed a rise in the number of car accidents linked to intoxicated driving. Two people have been killed in two separate suspected drunk driving accidents in Gwinnett County this week. Auto accidents involving drunk drivers are some of the most serious accidents which occur.

The first accident occurred on Monday morning on northbound Interstate 85 in Norcross. A Cadillac DeVille that had stopped after an earlier auto accident, was struck by a Mitsubishi Montero. A passenger in the Cadillac sustained fatal injuries.

A few minutes later, a second accident involving three separate vehicles in Duluth, left one person dead. This was a head-on accident that also killed a passenger. Besides these two fatalities, both of the accidents resulted in several injuries. Charges are pending in both accidents. Police believe alcohol intoxication was a factor in both of these crashes.

The risks of being in an accident involving an intoxicated driver are never higher than they are during the holiday season. Drunk driving is foolish and risky behavior at any time of the year, but especially during the holiday season when there are more motorists sharing the road with you. With options like public transportation, chauffeur services, designated driver facilities and cab services available in Atlanta, there's no reason why a responsible motorist should drive drunk.

Accidents involving intoxicated drivers are typically high-impact accidents that result in serious injuries and fatalities. Alcohol clouds a person's judgment and reasoning abilities, increases feelings of recklessness and slows down a person's response times. A combination of the three can be deadly when a person is driving. This holiday, ensure good times for you and your fellow motorists by avoiding driving drunk.

Posted By Robert Katz In Auto Accident Claims , DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

A study just released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that the rates of both drunk and drugged driving declined over the past year. While this is a good sign for reducing drunk driving accidents, in 2009, there were approximately 30 million drunk drivers in the US, and another 10 million driving in a drugged state. Therefore, there continues to be a significant risk of persons being killed and injured in drunk driving accidents.

The study has been released just in time for the holiday season, when more numbers of intoxicated motorists can be expected on Georgia's streets. It only proves to Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers that even though we have made much progress in reducing the numbers of intoxicated motorists on the road, especially hard-core drinkers who are responsible for so many accidents every year, there is much more that needs to be done.

The survey included more than 200,000 people, and found that overall, approximately 3o million Americans aged 16 and above drove drunk over the past year. That is based on an aggregate of the drunk driver rates between 2006 and 2009. That works out to about 13 .2% of the population.

The good news is that the 13.2% rate is a drop from the 14.6% drunk driver rate between 2002 and 2006. The bad news from the study is that most drunk and drugged drivers in the self-reported survey were young drivers between 16 and 25 years of age. Approximately 19.5% of these drivers admitted to driving drunk, and 11.8% admitted to driving under the influence of illegal drugs.

Last year, Georgia had between 10.5% and 12.5% drunk drivers, and between 3.8% and 4.2% drugged drivers on the road. As far as drugged driving goes, law enforcement in Georgia probably needs to take some tips from our neighbors, including Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, who have some of the lowest drugged driver rates in the country. Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama have some of the lowest drunk driver rates in the country.

Posted By Robert Katz In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Report Indicates Drunk Driving Still Serious Threat

Fact - Drunk driving fatality rates have dropped significantly over the past five years.

Fact - Fatal drunk driving accidents account for 31% of all highway accidents in the US.

There is no contradiction in those facts. While we have made substantial progress in reducing the number of people being killed every year in accidents involving intoxicated motorists, these accidents still continue to occur in large numbers, killing thousands of people every year. A new report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stresses exactly how serious the problem is.

The report includes the findings of a survey conducted by the NHTSA in 2008. The survey included drivers aged above 16 years. The survey indicated that approximately 1 in every 5 motorists admitted that he had driven under the influence at least once during the previous 12 months. Teen drivers between the ages 16 and 20 were less likely to say they had driven in an intoxicated condition. However, among the ones who did, the incidence of binge drinking was quite high. These teen motorists admitted to drinking at least six alcoholic drinks during a single sitting.

We've all seen those “don't drink and drive” PSA's on TV. Obviously, many of those are not reaching their target. The report comes at an opportune time. In a couple of weeks’ time, many Atlantans will be out celebrating the Labor Day weekend. We don't want to play party pooper here, but it's important to realize that your chances of being involved in a drunk driving accident will rise dramatically during the holiday.

There isn't anything you can do to prevent others from drinking and driving. However, you can increase your chances of returning home safe and sound. Wear seatbelts, don't drink and drive, and switch off your cell phone before driving. Spend some time mapping out an alternate route to your destination that will help you avoid congested streets.

The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto/car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

We have always believed that parents play a major role to play in preventing alcohol-related car crashes among teenagers. That line of thinking doesn't come merely because we are Atlanta car accident attorneys, but also because we’re parents ourselves. That is also why we also encourage parents to talk about the dangers of alcohol excesses with their children.

A study published last month shows that a combination of being involved in your child's life and what he or she is up to, as well as a solid base of support and affection, can help reduce a vast number of problems associated with teenage drinking. Obviously, one of those problems would be driving under the influence. Teen motorists continue to be one of the most high risk groups for intoxicated driving. Much of this has to do with peer pressure. Parents can do much to negate the harmful effect of peer pressure by providing a warm, stable family environment, and also keeping track of what the child is doing outside the home.

The study published in the July issue of Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs surveyed about 5,000 kids about their relationship with their parents. The key components of the survey were

Did the children have parents who were affectionate and loving towards them?

Did the parents frequently keep track of what the children were doing outside the home?

It shouldn't come as a surprise to parents or Atlanta drunk driving accident attorneys to learn that children who came from homes where the parents were loving and affectionate, and showed a deep interest in what the child was doing outside the home, had a lower chance of binge drinking. For this kind of parental influence however, it seems important that parents meet both criteria-provide a loving family environment and a strict attitude when it comes to the child's activities outside the home.

Parental influence might not mean much when a child begins to drink. However, it could prevent him from indulging in alcohol excesses, like binging or drinking more than five drinks in a single day. Such kind of behavior is often linked to teen motorist accidents, the number one killer of teenagers in America.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Last month, the New York Times had a comparison on various programs aimed at a minimizing harmful alcohol-related behaviors, like drunk driving. The comparison didn't have much great news for Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers. The review found that most programs that aim to educate people about the dangers of drunk driving and other alcohol excesses, either fail to show the desired results, or only show desired results in the short haul.

Just about everybody agrees that many people, who indulge in dangerous alcohol excesses in adulthood, begin such behaviors in their teenage years. That's why it's so important to educate teenagers about the dangers of drunk driving. Teenagers or underage drinkers are much more likely to go on drinking binges and other behaviors that dramatically increase their risks of being involved in a crash. In schools, according to the New York Times review, DUI education programs have seen limited success. The problem seems to be that teenagers do learn the dangers of drunk driving through these programs, but are less likely to retain such information over the years.

This is where parents come in. Sobriety education from parents, according to the review, has a much higher chance of success. However, for parental influence in such matters to be high, it's important that parents make safety a common theme of discussion at home. In other words, it may not impact a teenager much if you sit him or her down for a warm heart-to-heart only when there's been a fatal drunk driving accident in your Atlanta neighborhood. Your interaction with your teenager about the consequences of drunk driving needs to be constant, continuous and consistent. It's not enough to merely talk to teenagers about drunk driving. It’s also important for you to walk the talk. In other words, there must be no irresponsible driving behaviors of your own.

Apart from parental influence and interventions by doctors, there don't seem to be any other programs or measures that can seriously reduce alcohol excesses.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Could Making Alcohol Pricier Help Lower DUI Accident Rates?

A new study provides some evidence that increasing taxes on alcohol and making it more expensive, could help minimize the incidence of dangerous alcohol-related leaders, including drunk driving. In fact, the study found that not only did such dangerous behaviors decrease when alcohol became more expensive, but it also reduced drunk driving accident, injury and fatality rates.

The review was conducted by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, which consists of public-health experts appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The review included a total of 72 studies worldwide, and in nearly all of the 72 studies, researchers found an inverse relationship between the cost of alcohol and the indices of dangerous alcohol-related excesses, including binge drinking and drunk driving. The review included studies of underage drinkers, and these studies also showed that when alcohol becomes more expensive, it lowers rates of underage drinking. The results seem to be consistent among all kinds of liquor, from wine to beer, and also across time periods and countries.

The Task Force and Community Preventive Services says that more research is needed to compare the benefits of increasing taxes on selective alcohol beverages, and increasing taxes on all alcohol beverages at once.

These are interesting results, although it's hard for Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers to imagine that much progress can be made in increasing the cost of alcohol without opposition from the beverage industry and other vested interests. The beverage industry has a solid track record of opposing any kind of measures that could possibly impact sales, even if these measures promote public health and safety. For the time being, anti-drunk driving efforts will have to include other interventions like ignition interlock devices and sobriety checkpoints.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

In spite of all efforts by college and university authorities to crack down on binge drinking, drunk driving and other alcohol-related issues facing college students, there seems to have been little progress made on this front. In a new study, too many college students admitted to riding with a drunk driver, driving after drinking and driving while intoxicated. Of course, the risk of severe injuries in auto accidents dramatically rises when a drunk driver is involved in the accident.

Researchers at the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University Of Maryland School of Public Health followed 1250 college students over four years. The students were interviewed every year about traveling in a car with a drunk driver, driving after having a few drinks and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The researchers found disturbing results. After the first year, more than 40% of the students admitted to traveling in a car with a drunk driver, while more than half said they had driven after drinking. Approximately 20% said they had driven while drunk. 

There is one fact that seems to come out from the study - the incidence of drunk driving among college students seems to actually increase as they reach the legally allowed drinking age of 21.

It's clear from the study that college enforcement and crackdowns are not having the desired result. Part of the reason might be that college deans tend to believe freshmen have a higher risk of drunk driving, binge drinking and other dangerous alcohol-related behaviors, than older students. This study shows that that is not true at all. If anything, the risk of dangerous alcohol- related behaviors actually increases as the student progresses through college. Perhaps it's time for colleges to reassess their programs to control drinking among students.

The Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of alcohol related car accidents in the metro Atlanta area and across Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

The female motorist, who was driving a car in Gwinnett County during a fatal drunk driving car accident that killed a three-year-old child, has now been officially charged.

Twenty-six-year-old Alicia Tubman was allegedly driving intoxicated on January 11^th, when she lost control of her car, and it struck a fire hydrant and a tree. The car burst into flames. Emergency response officers were able to pull the woman out of the car. However, they could do nothing to rescue three-year-old Jayla Cook, who was in the backseat.

Tubman has spent the weeks since the accident recovering from burn injuries at the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. She has now been charged with driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, cruelty to children, reckless driving and other charges. After the accident, Tubman‘s blood-alcohol levels were found to be more than three times the legally allowed limit of .08.

Tubman’s case is just one among a growing number of accidents across the country involving female drunk drivers. A new study shows that the number of female motorists arrested for drunk driving in Georgia and across the US, is steadily increasing, while the corresponding numbers for male motorists in many age groups is actually on the decline.

The study led by Dr. Virginia Tsai of the University Of California at San Diego indicates that young female motorists had a greater increase than male motorists in the proportion of involvement in drunk driving accidents. Although male drivers continue to be linked to the most number of alcohol-related car accidents in the country every year, the study indicates that women are closing the gap in this area. The rate of involvement in fatal drunk driving accidents for female motorists between the age of 19 and 24, has increased.

This wasn't the kind of equality that the pioneers of the women’s emancipation movement were looking for. Sociologists say that this is a natural progression of the increasing financial empowerment of women. As women compete with men for the same jobs and the same lifestyles, they are increasingly shedding inhibitions, and displaying the same aggressive and reckless behaviors as many male motorists do.

The Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of alcohol-related car accidents in the metro-Atlanta region, and around the state of Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 1 Comments Permalink

Police Believe Drunk Driving Was Cause of DeKalb County Accident

Police believe drunk driving was a possible factor in a serious multiple vehicle accident on I-85 over the weekend. The accident, which injured 9 people, involved a wrong way driver.

According to police, a Chevy Blazer was traveling southbound in the northbound HOV lane. At about 3 am, the Blazer crashed into a Ford Explorer and a Buick. Four cars were involved in the accident, and 9 people were injured, including the driver who was driving the wrong way. He continues to remain in the hospital, along with three of the injured victims.

Police representatives say it’s not confirmed yet why the driver was traveling the wrong way, but it seems that “alcohol may have been a factor”.

It isn’t confirmed yet if alcohol use was indeed a factor in this crash, but as drunk driving accident lawyers in Atlanta know, alcohol use is the number one factor in wrong way driving crashes in the country. Driving in an impaired state of mind can easily cause a motorist to read signs wrongly, or not read them at all, causing him to end up in a situation that is potentially serious.

Wrong way driving crashes that don’t end in fatalities or serious injuries are relatively rare. These accidents often involve an inebriated driver with little control over his faculties, and heading from the opposite direction, a motorist who is driving at normal speeds with no cue or warning about the other car. Avoiding a crash is hard, simply because a motorist is not expecting a person to be driving in the opposite direction.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers and auto safety advocates will be making note of a new free iTunes app that allows partiers to determine their intoxication level, minimizing the risk that they will get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state.

The app, called R-U-Buzzed was developed by the Colorado Department of Transportation at a cost of $8,000.  It was meant to be another step in the state’s fight against drunk driving, and was released in time for New Year’s, which happens to be the day with the highest number of drunk driving accident deaths in the US. The app is free to download, and allows a user to input his gender, weight, number of drinks consumed and other details to come up with a BAC number. The number is accompanied by messages denoting whether it is safe for the user to drive. The “don’t drive” message is coded in red, and advises the user to get a designated driver.

The app isn’t a definitive measure of a person’s BAC level, and doesn’t claim to be so. There are plenty of other factors that can impact a person’s intoxication level, including the kind of prescription drugs he is on, and the kind of food he has been eating. Besides, R-U-Buzzed has its critics in those who believe that it could turn into a drinking game, with users drinking copiously to test their BAC levels. The strongest criticism comes from those who believe that anything less than a strong and strict “never drink and drive” message is bound to fail.

There is no doubt that the app has its short comings. However, as Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers, we are encouraged by the fact that it does raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving among teen motorists and young drivers. Teen motorist safety is a high priority issue for us, and as such, measures like this that take the anti-impaired driving message right to teens on their own turf, must be encouraged. Teens are some of the highest users of social networking media and technology, and if this app encourages them to broach the subject of driving after drinking, then as Atlanta personal injury lawyers, we are  all for it.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Woman Involved in Gwinnett County Bus Accident Denied Bond

A female motorist suspected of causing a serious bus crash on I-85  in Gwinnett County on the 24^th of December has been denied bond. Lawrenceville-resident Joy Christine Wilson has been charged with felony hit and run and DUI.

The accident occurred when Wilson crashed her Honda Accord into a small passenger bus belonging to a organization called “Just People Inc.” Just before she struck the bus, witnesses on I-85 reported that a black Accord was being driven recklessly. As a result of the impact, the bus flipped over and crashed into a guardrail. There were 14 people in the bus, including the driver, and three of these people were seriously injured. These injuries have been reported to be life threatening. At least 9 other victims also suffered less serious injuries.  Wilson stopped for a brief moment after the accident, but left the scene before police arrived. She returned to the scene, and was taken into custody.

What makes this accident especially heartrending is that the victims in the bus were people with developmental disabilities. Just People Inc. provides support services to such adults, and at the time of the accident, the bus was apparently taking these people to an art class.

It’s always sad when serious accidents occur during Christmas time, and especially when the victims involved have special needs and are likely to be extremely traumatized by the incident. Unfortunately, the season for good cheer also seems to be the season for intoxicated driving and other reckless driving behavior by motorists.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this bus accident who continue to receive treatment in the hospital.

The Gwinnett County bus accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of bus accidents in and around the state of Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

A female motorist suspected of causing a serious bus crash on I-85  in Gwinnett County on the 24^th of December has been denied bond. Lawrenceville-resident Joy Christine Wilson has been charged with felony hit and run and DUI.

The accident occurred when Wilson crashed her Honda Accord into a small passenger bus belonging to a organization called “Just People Inc.” Just before she struck the bus, witnesses on I-85 reported that a black Accord was being driven recklessly. As a result of the impact, the bus flipped over and crashed into a guardrail. There were 14 people in the bus, including the driver, and three of these people were seriously injured. These injuries have been reported to be life threatening. At least 9 other victims also suffered less serious injuries.  Wilson stopped for a brief moment after the accident, but left the scene before police arrived. She returned to the scene, and was taken into custody.

What makes this accident especially heartrending is that the victims in the bus were people with developmental disabilities. Just People Inc. provides support services to such adults, and at the time of the accident, the bus was apparently taking these people to an art class.

It’s always sad when serious accidents occur during Christmas time, and especially when the victims involved have special needs and are likely to be extremely traumatized by the incident. Unfortunately, the season for good cheer also seems to be the season for intoxicated driving and other reckless driving behavior by motorists.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this bus accident who continue to receive treatment in the hospital.

The Gwinnett County bus accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of bus accidents in and around the state of Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

States like Georgia, that conduct aggressive enforcement activities against drunk driving, are more likely to see a dramatic drop in accident fatality rates. That’s according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who launched the annual national crackdown on drunk driving over the holiday season.  

Across the country, including in Georgia, law enforcement efforts will be stepped up to keep intoxicated motorists off the road. Each state has its own version of the annual crackdown, and this typically includes sobriety checkpoints and concentrated drunk driving patrols. The launch of the annual crackdown coincides with an announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that drunk driving accident fatalities nationwide dropped by 7 percent in 2008 compared to 2007. In Georgia, 416 people died in drunk driving crashes in 2008, compared to 445 in 2007. That was a decrease of 5 percent. This has been largely due to the effort of our law enforcement personnel, and the concentrated patrols mounted during alcohol-heavy holidays, like New Years.

The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s campaign “Operation Zero Tolerance” will kick off later this month around the state. The point of having campaigns like this around the holiday season, isn’t to round up partiers and throw them in the slammer for a night, as some drunk drivers like to believe. The campaign is meant to act as a deterrent for drunk drivers. Those who drink at a venue must know that they must either call a cab, get a friend to drop them home, take public transport or sleep it off at the venue. If they decide to drive home under the influence, there is a very high likelihood they will be caught and arrested.

As Georgia auto accident attorneys, we are also impressed with the way some states have chosen to use technology to get out the “Don’t Drink and Drive” message. In Delaware, Rhode Island and Michigan, law enforcement officials are using social networking media like Twitter, to spread the message. In Washington State, the campaign includes online ads on the XBox 360 live.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In DUI | 0 Comments Permalink

Woman Killed in Wrong Way Driving Accident in Atlanta

A young mother has been tragically killed in a drunk driving accident involving a wrong way driver in Atlanta. The accident occurred on Saturday.  

According to the Atlanta Police Department, Robert Ayiteyfio drove his Toyota Camry west on an eastbound lane of interstate 20 and crashed into a Ford Taurus.  In the Taurus were a mother and her two children, aged 2 years and 10 months, and her boyfriend. The woman died of her injuries at the hospital while her friend sustained injuries. The children had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Just moments before the accident, an off-duty police officer had seen the Camry traveling in the wrong direction, and called for help. After the crash, Ayiteyfio was arrested on charges of drunk driving, homicide by vehicle and driving the wrong way.

Wrong way driving linked to alcohol use was under the national spotlight this July, when a New York woman drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway and crashed head-on into an SUV, killing a total of 8 people, including herself and four children in her car. The family of the driver, Diane Schuler, continues to deny that she had been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even after toxicology tests showed traces of alcohol and marihuana.  However, wrong way crashes are most often the result of impaired driving.

Wrong way accidents are less frequent, but when they do occur, the impact is severe. These accidents are head-on collisions, and so, typically result in very serious injuries or fatalities. An oncoming motorist won’t expect to see a driver traveling towards him, and may find it hard to stop the vehicle in time to avoid an accident. This increases the impact of the crash, and consequently, the severity of the injuries.

The Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of drunk driving crashes in Atlanta and around the state of Georgia.

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Gwinnett County Police Officer Arrested after Drunk Driving Accident 

You would expect a law enforcement officer, who sees the devastation caused by drunk driving accidents everyday, to have a better appreciation for the consequences of these. Not always, it appears. A police officer in Gwinnett County has been arrested for driving under the influence after he caused a minor accident.  

The officer James Stoudenmire, was driving a Mustang that rear ended another car stopped at a red light. The passenger in the other vehicle suffered a leg injury. Officers, who responded at the scene, noticed the strong smell of alcohol, and administered a field sobriety test. Stoudenmire was reported "unsteady” during the test.  He also confessed that he had consumed four alcoholic drinks. He was charged with DUI and following too closely. Stoudenmire has been placed on administrative leave.

Stoudenmire has been a cop for the last four years. That should have been enough time to understand the consequences of driving under the influence. The public and Gwinnett County drunk driving accident lawyers look to lawmakers and law enforcement officers to provide inspiration, and be an example for the motoring public.  

In Georgia, we have been able to bring down drunk driving accident fatality rates over the past few years. Fewer people die in alcohol-related car accidents now that they used to a decade earlier. Much of this has had to do with stronger enforcement and a reduced tolerance for drunk driving. The accidents that do take place however, involve people like Stoudenmire, who know that it is dangerous to drink and drive, but do so anyway.  

Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or fatalities in this accident. Typically, drunk driving accidents have deadly consequences, because they involve a motorist who is feeling reckless and not in control of his facilities.

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Toyota to Introduce Anti Drunk Driving Gadgets in Cars

If the R&D folks at Toyota are successful, we may soon have cars outfitted with a breathalyzer device that can warn motorists if they are too drunk to drive, or in worst cases, simply shut down the ignition, preventing a motorist from driving away.  

The automaker has announced that it is developing the gadget which features a breathalyzer and a digital camera that will take a picture of the motorist’s face for identification purposes. In case the driver is found to have too much alcohol on his breath, then the device will either warn him, or shut down the ignition system, depending on the levels of alcohol detected. Toyota says that it will soon begin testing the gadgets on trucks. Besides Toyota, Nisan Motor is also developing a similar gadget. Nisan's gadget is part of its goal of reducing the number of fatalities or serious injuries in accidents involving its vehicles by half, by the year 2015.  

As DeKalb County drunk driving accident lawyers, we find it encouraging that automakers are developing mechanisms that can prevent intoxicated drivers from driving. However, using these gadgets to actually reduce drunk driving accident rates could prove to be far more difficult. Even if these features do ultimately make it to passenger vehicles, they may first be introduced as an optional feature. Getting these features to become standard equipment is going to take plenty of legislative muscle.

However, trucking companies, bus companies or other fleet owners may be able to use these devices with good results. Commercial vehicle accidents are often traced to intoxicated drivers, and fleet owners may benefit from such devices. In fact, Toyota says that the gadget will alert fleet owners if a driver is detected with excessive amounts of alcohol on his breath.

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Georgia Law Enforcement Kicks off Labor Day Drunk Driving Crackdown

Across Georgia, Labor Day counts as one of the deadliest holidays in the calendar. Every year, during the holiday that marks the official end of the summer, several drunk driving accidents are caused by holiday makers who have neglected to designate an official driver for the evening.

Last year, there were 2,154 accidents reported during the 78-hour period that marks the most dangerous day for motorists around the holiday. Those accidents injured 577 people, and killed 20. Most of these accidents, not surprisingly, were linked to driving under the influence.

Nationwide, the Department of Transportation kicked off its drunk driving crackdown earlier this month. In Georgia, the program is called Operation Zero Tolerance. The program began on Friday, and will run through September 7^th. This year, for the fourth consecutive year, there will be thousands of traffic enforcement officers, who will conduct sobriety checkpoints and patrols through out Georgia. Motorists traveling during the holiday are encouraged to avoid driving drunk. If you are driving in a group, designate one person as the sober driver for the evening, and if that’s not possible, call for a cab. Georgia drunk driving accident lawyers would also encourage holiday travelers to buckle up to stay safe.  

Operation Zero Tolerance is named thus for its aggressive, no-excuses approach to drunk driving. Motorists, who are caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 and above, will simply be arrested. There will be no citations, no fines and no warnings.

Operation Zero Tolerance is one way that law enforcement officers help keep drunk drivers off the road, and other motorists safe. Far too often, lives are lost when an impaired driver crashes his car into somebody, after he’s been able to drive for miles under the influence. With concentrated patrols, the chances of a drunk driver being on the road long enough to cause serious injury or death, become lower.

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Nationwide, there has been an increase in the number of female motorists involved in drunk driving accidents over the past decade. The recent death of a mother with seven others in an allegedly alcohol-fueled car accident, has turned the spotlight on this disturbing phenomenon.

Last month, Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on a street in Rochester in New York, crashing head-on into another vehicle. Diane, her 2-year-old daughter and three nieces all below 8 years of age, died when the van plowed head-on into another vehicle. Three people in the other car were also killed. Toxicology reports post the tragic accident, have shown that Schuler had alcohol in her system at the time of the crash. A broken bottle of vodka was also found in her van.

According to the New York Times, her niece Emma who was in the car with her, called her father a few minutes before the crash, complaining that her aunt was having trouble seeing, and was slurring. Investigators are now looking into Schuler’s alcohol history, as well as her actions in the hours leading up to the accident.  They are looking into where she purchased the alcohol, and who allowed a woman with a blood alcohol level of .19 percent to be driving a car with children. Schuler’s family has denied that she had an alcohol problem. Her husband has spoken to the press about how his wife had a medical condition that could have caused the accident.

Not surprisingly, Schuler’s husband’s pleas that his wife could have suffered a stroke or other medical condition at the wheel, have not gone down well with the families of three victims who were in the other car. They insist that Schuler was an alcoholic, and that her family, like it happens so often with families of people with a drinking problem, is simply in a state of denial.

It’s time for some introspection in the light of this tragedy. We haven’t addressed women drivers and alcohol use as strongly as we should have.  Studies have shown that while the rates of arrests of male drunk drivers have dropped over the past decade, similar rates for female drivers during the same period of time have actually increased.  

There is some encouraging news, however. The Transportation Department has announced that its drunk driving crackdown this year will specifically target female motorists. As Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers, we believe it’s about time.

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Every year, the Georgia State Patrol increases patrolling and enforcement efforts around the Fourth of July to minimize the number of car accidents around the holiday. This year's crackdown on drunk driving begins tonight.

The campaign Operation Zero Tolerance kicks off at 9 pm tonight, and will last through the fifth of July. It will include the participation of more than 500 police agencies in Georgia, all taking part in the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety “100 Days of Summer HEAT” initiative. Enforcement officers will be conducting additional patrols across Georgia highways, and will be cracking down especially hard on intoxicated motorists. The 100 Days of Summer HEAT initiative will run through the Labor Day weekend. The initiative includes crackdowns targeting drunk drivers, speeders, as well as motorists violating seatbelt and child safety seat laws.

Every year, we celebrate the declaration of our independence with great fanfare.  We burst fireworks, and host barbecues. Unfortunately, the Fourth of July is also the single deadliest day of the year, with the maximum number of accidents occurring on this day. Between 1986 and 2002, an average of 161 people died in automobile accidents on Fourth of July. 

You can’t avoid the traveling that goes hand in hand with the holiday, but you can take steps to make sure you're safe on the roads. It’s best to drive keeping in mind that it is the biggest holiday of the year, and there are likely to be hundreds of motorists around you driving under the influence of alcohol. Stay within speed limits, avoid driving while drunk, and wear your seat belts. 

Besides the Fourth of July, New Year's Eve, Christmas, Memorial Day and Saint Patrick's Day are high on the list of alcohol-heavy days that see a sharp spike in drunk driving accidents. These holidays tend to see more numbers of motorists on the road. Add to that the fact that more than a few of them will be in no condition to drive, and it's easy to see why Georgia State Patrol and emergency rescue teams are so busy on these days.

The drunk driving accident attorneys at the Katz Law Firm represent victims of people injured in alcohol-related car crashes and families of those killed in such accidents.

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A drunk driving accident in Gwinnett has shocked a Lawrenceville Community, and sparked outrage among residents who are now calling for efforts to control the dangers from speeding and drunk motorists.

On Sunday night, 25-year-old Sabrina Stanek was at home with her two children when she noticed a speeding driver zooming up and down the street. Stanek walked up the curb in front of her house to stop the driver. As she stood near the curb, the drunk driver Constantine Toncz lost control of his truck, and struck the woman. Stanek was crushed between Toncz's truck and another truck parked off the street. She died from injuries caused by the accident. Stanek was a single mother who had two children, aged 4 and 6.

Toncz, a construction worker from Romania was arrested later, and charged with vehicular homicide. After hitting Sabrina, Toncz didn't stick around to survey the damage. He simply got out of his car, and walked to a relative’s house on the same street.

It now appears that this wasn’t Toncz's first brush with the law. Since 1993, he had been arrested at least three times, and at the time of the accident, was out of jail on bond on theft charges. He has been charged with first degree vehicular homicide, and driving under the influence of alcohol among other charges.

Residents of Belmont lane where the accident took place, say that motorists like Toncz are a big problem on the road. They say that they frequently have to deal with speeding drivers zipping up and down the street at odd hours. The absence of speed bumps makes it easier for motorists to drive at excessive speeds. They are also complaining about police patrolling in the area, which is inadequate.

According to news reports, Toncz, who appeared in court on Tuesday, showed very little remorse for his actions. For the safety of other motorists on the road, Georgia drunk driving accident lawyers hope that Toncz is put away for a long time.

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Apart from Atlanta, its Athens with its thumping nightlife scene that has the most number of DUI schools in Georgia, with a total of four DUI schools here. The Athens Clarke County Police Department and the University Police Department have been consistently cracking down on drunk drivers across Athens. Last year 207 people were arrested for drunk driving. There is also a considerably larger haul during weekends, when students from the University of Georgia step out, as well as on holidays. This St Patrick's Day for instance, Athens police checked more than 700 vehicles, and arrested 63 people for drunk driving.

In most cases, these people have to take a course at a DUI school. The program lasts for 20 hours and costs $280. A student who finds himself in a DUI class after being arrested for drunk driving can expect to learn ways to prevent him or her from committing such offences again.

Besides DUI schools, Athens also has other options that prevent drunk motorists from being on the road.  Local transportation services will for a fee, send a designated driver to take partiers home.  All revelers have to do is call the service, and a designated driver arrives on a collapsible scooter that can be folded later, and placed into the car truck. A service like this ensures that revelers can all get intoxicated, without having to worry about which one of them has to stay sober to drive the rest home. Most calls for these transportation services come, not surprisingly, from downtown Athens, where the buzzing nightlife means that more numbers of people are not in a position to drive themselves home.

As Atlanta personal injury lawyers, we wish 18-year-old Andrew London and his friends had also hired a transportation service. London surrendered to police on Tuesday after a drunk driving accident last week in Alpharetta in north Fulton County, that killed his friend and left his brother with injuries. Besides intoxicated driving, London was also speeding at the time of the car accident. A life could easily have been saved here, if one of the boys had designated himself the sober driver for the evening.

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The toxicology report of a Cobb County high school student who was killed in a car accident in January has confirmed that he had a blood alcohol level of .133 at the time of the crash.

16-year-old Garrett Reed was killed on January 24^th in a collision with another car.  Reed had been drinking for several hours before the crash, and before he left his friend's home in his car, he told him that he was drunk, but was able to drive. As the accident later proved, Reed had been in no condition to drive.

A week after the drunk driving accident, the mother of one of Reed's classmates Kecia Evangela Whitfield was arrested on charges of providing alcohol to Reed and his friends. She is awaiting trial in April.

The accident shocked the community, and put the spotlight on the problem of teen drunk driving. The fact that Reed was able to obtain a half gallon bottle of spiced rum from an adult is appalling, but not that surprising. A survey by the American Medical Association had revealed in 2005 that far too many teenagers were able to obtain alcohol from their parents, while close to 40 percent of teens admitted that they had been able to obtain alcohol from a friend’s parent. At least one out of four teenagers admitted that they had attended a party where teenagers had been consuming alcohol in front of parents.

There is a widespread misconception that giving a child alcohol is a rite of passage. Far from it, giving alcohol to a child places severe pressure on a teenager to drink. In Reed's own community in Powder Springs, Georgia, teenagers admitted that it is easier to obtain alcohol from parents and other adults than to go through the charade of using a fake ID.

Tackling the problem of underage drinking requires a collaboration of law enforcement agencies, high school and college authorities, and the families themselves. In Cobb County which has woken up to the harsh and unpleasant realities of teen drunk driving, a Cobb Alcohol Task Force which comprises of community volunteers is working to make it harder for teenagers to obtain alcohol. A campaign called ‘’Adults Who Host Lose The Most’’ works to educate adult citizens about the dangers they invite when they provide teenagers with alcohol. Ultimately, there is only so much that the police, volunteer groups or Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyers can do to deal with the problem of underage driving. Parents must step up and play their part too.    

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March 21^st marked two years since the car accident that killed three Bryan County high school students.  Melissa and Heather Arthur and Laura Cobb were killed in an accident just two miles from their school.

On the day of the accident, the three girls were passengers in a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Tam Duc Le. As the car turned a curve on highway 119, it collided with a pickup truck. Tam Duc Le was charged with felony counts of first degree vehicular homicide and charges of reckless driving and several other traffic violations, including failure to maintain lanes and driving too fast for conditions.

The accident also brought into focus the dangerous highway curve where the accident occurred.  Before the accident that killed the three high school students, there had been several other accidents on the curve caused by speeding drivers. At the accident scene, there is still a sign asking motorists to drive at 40 miles per hour. However, families in the area say that motorists frequently drive at far higher speeds.

Teen driving comes with it a number of extraordinary challenges. We think it’s a rite of passage when we hand over car keys to a child, but fail to realize that a vehicle can be a dangerous weapon in his or her hand if it doesn’t come with the right road safety education.

Drunk driving, text messaging or talking on cell phones while driving - these are just a few of the distractions that place teens at great risk for accidents. Across the country, the problem of teen drunk driving has snow balled with binge drinking a major problem at universities. The number of drunk driving accidents involving teenagers has increased, while rates for the general population have decreased. Georgia drunk driving accident lawyers have been actively calling for measures to stem the problem for some time now.  

Teenagers are impulsive, over confident and even reckless by nature, and suffer from a feeling of invincibility. Those are normal attributes for their age, but dangerous characteristics in a driver. It falls back not only on law enforcement, but also parents and schools to ensure that teenagers are taught safe and responsible driving behavior, so car accidents involving these drivers are reduced in number. 

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Law enforcement officers in Georgia expect to be busier than usual during alcohol-heavy holidays like St. Patrick's Day, cracking down on offenders and preventing drunk driving accidents. This year, was no different. In fact, it was a bumper harvest of sorts for police officers in downtown Athens who lodged a total of 268 criminal charges for a range of offenses, including drunk driving.

Those charged included drivers as well as their passengers, and included charges for violations like drug offenses and outstanding warrants, while others were cited for failure to wear seat belts. The crackdown was part of a special St. Patrick's Day enforcement involving some 50 troopers manning at least seven different checkpoints. The crackdown is named "Operation Rolling Thunder," and last year it was used to rein in drunk drivers on four University of Georgia game days. This year, officers were expecting several arrests, given the fact that drinking is so much a part of the St. Patrick's' Day tradition, but even so they were unprepared for the large numbers of arrests. Officers had warned jail authorities to expect a larger than usual flow of guests, but Clarke County jail has only one fingerprint system, and jail officers ended up dealing with more numbers of offenders than they were prepared for. Most of those arrested were forced to spend many hours in jail before they could be bonded out.

Law enforcement officers tend to have their hands full during busy holidays, especially those that involve plenty of drinking and merriment, like Thanksgiving and New Year's. The numbers of people drinking and driving tend to peak around New Years Eve, which is arguably the most alcohol-heavy holiday of the year. St Patrick's' Day however must rank close behind. While no one wants to play party-pooper, it’s a fact that the number of alcohol-related car accidents increase exponentially during a holiday. That’s why crackdowns like Rolling Thunder are essential - to make sure that those who have tempered their enjoyment with responsible drinking behavior, are not made to pay for those who have been stupid enough to tank up and slip behind the wheel.   The St. Patrick's Day crackdown in Athens received plenty of complaints from "victims" who were "made" to wait 20 hours before being bonded out, and lodged in crammed cells that were full of other likeminded DUI offenders. For those who whine about being made to wheeze into a breathalyzer and have their holiday end in a jail cell, Atlanta car accident lawyers would have one simple piece of advice – don’t drink and drive. 

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