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Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a very serious matter throughout the state of Georgia. It not only violates Georgia law, but puts other innocent people at risk as well. Even the smallest amount of alcohol (BAC of .02 grams) has been proven to impair one’s driving abilities, which increases the chances of causing a serious auto accident on metro-Atlanta roads.
A 12-year-old girl from Ireland filed a lawsuit against her parents for their poor judgment associated with drinking and driving. The liability suit brought by Faith Carberry was settled on Wednesday. The drunk driving auto accident happened in November of 2007, when the child was a mere seven years old. Her mother was drinking and wrecked the vehicle, causing the death of Faith’s six-year-old sister and nine-year-old friend. The brother of the nine-year-old was injured in the crash as well, but survived. Faith suffered severe injuries to her spine as a result of the crash and she was affected greatly by the passing of her sister. By filing a lawsuit through her grandfather against her parents, she hoped to recover for both physical and mental damages. This child’s mother was operating the vehicle under the influence to the extent that she blacked out and changed multiple lives forever.
Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a negligent decision that drivers often make, often leading to catastrophic consequences. Adults and children alike are seriously injured and killed as a result of others’ decisions to operate vehicles while intoxicated. These Atlanta drunk driving auto wrecks cause large financial losses to victims and their families. These losses, as well as psychological losses, can be recovered for those victims from the party responsible for the accident. Georgia law also allows punitive damages to be recovered in many cases as well.
If you are involved in an accident in which the at-fault party is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there are important steps to take to ensure compensation for your suffering. If you’re not seriously injured, get as much information at the scene as possible. This information includes the driver’s contact information such as name, address, phone number, license plate number, name of insurance company, and their policy number. It may also be helpful to get the contact information for any witnesses to the accident. Take photos of the automobiles involved, as well as the scene of the accident. This can all be done while waiting on the police to arrive at the scene to do a formal report. You should get the police report as well. As experienced personal injury attorneys, we suggest that you do not speak to the other driver’s insurance company until you’ve contact an attorney. Their objective is to settle the claim as quickly and cheaply as possible, so make sure you consult a personal injury attorney before speaking with them. Even though you’re not seriously injured, you should seek medical attention. Visiting the emergency room or your general physician following an accident is a vital step to ensure your claim is taken seriously. You never know what internal or delayed injuries you have sustained, so having a professional determine that is the most important thing for you to do after an accident.
If you have been involved in a DUI accident, the car wreck lawyers at Jones & Swanson want to help. We have over 40 years of combined experience representing victims of auto accidents and will help you recover the compensation you deserve. We have worked with victims throughout Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Kennesaw, Roswell, Woodstock, Johns Creek, and the rest of Georgia. Contact us today at (770) 427-5498 for a free consultation and affordable representation.
