Drivers across Georgia should be aware that drunk driving is one of, if not the most, deadly behaviors in which a driver can engage behind the wheel. A drunk driver makes risky, unpredictable decisions and often has slower reflexes as a result of alcohol impairment. Accidents caused by a drunk driver are far too common. In fact, a person is injured in a drunk driving accident roughly every two minutes.
As dangerous as it is for drivers to be drunk, they can pose an even more serious threat to others when they are not only intoxicated, but distracted as well. Recently, two people were hurt when an alleged drunk, distracted driver crashed into them one evening.
The two victims were stopped on the shoulder of an exit ramp off a highway trying to replace a broken wheel. As they worked on their vehicle, another car came barreling onto the exit ramp. The driver failed to act in time to avoid crashing into the stopped vehicle and the two people next to it. This is because, according to police, the driver was drunk and distracted by his phone.
The driver was apparently texting right before the accident. When police arrived, they also suspected he was drunk. The combination proved to be catastrophic for the two victims who were seriously injured by the reckless, negligent driver. It is possible that the driver could face serious penalties if he was in violation of state drunk driving laws. He was also in violation of the state’s distracted driving laws which, like Georgia, prohibit drivers from texting while driving.
But the victims of this accident and others like it may choose to also pursue a civil claim against a negligent driver for damages. Recovering from serious injuries can be expensive and victims are often eligible to collect compensation for medical bills, ongoing care, lost wages and other related expenses. Accidents caused by a drunk or distracted driver can be devastating, especially considering that they are generally preventable. This is why victims and their families often choose to work with an attorney to take legal action against drivers and hold them accountable for their behaviors.
Source: WNCN, “2 pedestrians hit by texting drunk driver in Zebulon,” Nov. 14, 2013
