Alcohol abuse continues to cause fatalities on our state’s roads. Despite decades of law enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns, people still choose to drive drunk, and their choices continue to cost lives.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, of the 1,797 people who died on Georgia’s roads in 2021, 391 of those, or 22%, were killed in an accident involving a driver who was legally drunk. In these cases, the driver had a blood alcohol content of at least .08%.
It is also significant that 473 of the 1,797 deaths, or 26%, involved a motorist who had any amount of alcohol in their system. This statistic reinforces that even a little alcohol can affect a person’s driving ability.
Many people and businesses have tried to analyze NHTSA’s data further, and that leads to various opinions how serious Georgia’s drunk problem really is.
For example, Georgia has more fatalities on the road than other states because Georgia has a relatively high population.
Still, though, NHTSA’s statistics show that there is further room for improvement in Georgia when it comes to drunk driving fatalities.
Victims of drunk drivers may have several legal options
One way to hold drunk drivers accountable is for their victims, including grieving families, to file legal claims against them.
Aside from sending an important message to drunk drivers, a civil suit can also ensure that victims and their families receive the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.
Victims also deserve compensation for their non-economic injuries including their emotional distress and pain and suffering.
In addition to holding a drunk driving accountable, in some situations, a family may also be able to sue the business or individual who served the drunk driver alcohol. A victim and their family should understand all their legal options.