DUI Accidents & Dram Shop

Published on: February 10, 2011

Man in Fatal Atlanta Auto Accident to Serve 10 Years in Prison

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.

Published on: February 8, 2011

Four People Injured in Atlanta Drunk Driving Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: February 3, 2011

Future Atlanta Cars May Come Equipped with Sensors to Prevent DUI Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: February 1, 2011

Georgia Ranks above National Average for Auto Accident Wrongful Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: December 30, 2010

DUI Accident Risks Increase by 150% on New Year’s Holiday

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: December 21, 2010

Two Gwinnett County Accidents Linked to Drunk Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: December 14, 2010

More Than 10% of Georgia Drivers at Risk of Drunk Driving Accidents in 2009

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: August 28, 2010

Report Indicates Drunk Driving Still Serious Threat

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: July 26, 2010

Drunk Driving Accidents Affected by Parenting Style

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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

Published on: July 20, 2010

Parents Most Influential in Preventing Teen Drunk Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.