Seth Gilliam – Dangers of Drunk Driving
In May of 2015, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Walking Dead star, Seth Gilliam, was arrested in Peachtree City and charged with DUI, possession of marijuana, reckless driving, and speeding. With the Labor Day holiday fast approaching, drivers should keep in mind the tragic consequences that can result from drinking and driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, there were 10,076 fatalities in 2013 in crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. On average, one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 52 minutes in 2013. 200 of those killed were innocent children. https://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812102.pdf
Through its Drive Alert Arrive Alive initiative, the Georgia Department of Transportation reported that 840 traffic fatalities occurred in Georgia between January 1, 2015 and August 31, 2015. On average, that is more than 100 deaths per month!
Georgia recognizes the dire consequences that can result from drinking and driving. When someone in injured at the hands of a drunk driver, they can certainly file a lawsuit for personal injuries but they can also bring a claim for punitive damages.
Punitive damages are awarded, not as compensation to a plaintiff, but solely to punish, penalize, or deter a defendant from engaging in the behavior that caused injury. Normally these damages are “capped” at $250,000.00. However, that is not the case if the defendant caused the injury while under the influence of alcohol or drugs that are not legally prescribed. O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1. In other words, Georgia law does not limit the amount the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in personal injury cases arising from the negligence of a drunk driver.
