Georgia Injury Law Blog
People who have suffered an alcohol related personal injury, like an injury that results from a drunk driving car accident, may have their chances of dying in the year after the injury increase significantly.
As the holiday season commences, it is important for Georgia motorists to understand that driving under the influence of alcohol, or otherwise using alcohol irresponsibly in a manner that causes them personal injury may actually increase their chances of dying in the year after the injury. According to the results of a new study that was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, when a person suffers an injury of the kind that results from an alcohol -related car accident, or any alcohol-related accident, especially an injury that is serious enough to require hospitalization, the chances of the person dying after the injury increase by a staggering 5 times.
The researchers looked at people who suffered from alcohol – related disorders and analyzed their fatality risk after suffering a serious personal injury related to their alcoholism. Different types of injuries were studied as part of the research. These injuries include those that result from drunk driving accidents as well as slip and fall accidents which are common when a person is inebriated and not in complete control of his senses. The researchers also included those injuries that occurred as a result of attempted self-harm, or when the person is involved in drunken fights.
As part of the study, the researchers analyzed more than 10 million emergency room visits between 2009 and 2012. They found that out of these 10 million emergency room visits, approximately 262,000 visits involved alcohol use disorders or persons who were intoxicated at the time of the injury. More than three quarters or an overwhelming majority of these injuries were unintentional, like those resulting from auto accidents or slip and fall accidents. Overall, the researchers found that out of the 262,000 people who suffered injuries linked to alcohol use, approximately 13,000 people died in the year after the injury. That translates to 5% of the group dying within a year after the injury and works out to a death rate of more than 5,205 for 100,000 people. This was more than 5 times the rest of the state’s population.
The researchers speculate that those fatality risks could possibly be lowered if hospitals connect these patients with patient resources that could help them manage their alcohol abuse problems, as well as other health problems that are linked to the alcoholism.
The Atlanta car crash attorneys at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and determine if you have legal options to a claim for damages. You may be eligible for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case.