If you're thinking about filing a personal injury suit after being injured in a car accident, it helps to have a basic understanding of what needs to happen first. Here are some of the most important things you need to know.
1. You have two years to file a claim
Underage drinking is a problem in Georgia, as it is with many states in the country. The Peach State has a few exceptions to the prohibition of alcohol for people below the age of 21, such as tasting a beer under parental supervision, but serving or selling it to minors is a violation for both the seller and the buyer.
Several police departments around Georgia work to protect people from underage drunkenness and driving under the influence with checks on the road and in businesses. For example, Savannah makes regular sweeps of public places and distributors by seeing if minors are able to buy alcohol with proper identity verification.
As in most other states across the country, Georgia residents are gearing up for Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the 2019 holiday season. Did you buy your turkey yet? Perhaps this year you're traveling to a loved one's house or to a special party with friends. If so, you'll want to be especially cautious on the road, as chances are high you will be sharing the roadway with one or more drunk drivers.
The laws that prohibit driving while intoxicated are quite clear. The problem is that not every driver adheres to them. It really doesn't matter how safe a driver you are, if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time and a drunk driver is nearby, you can wind up suffering serious injuries if a collision occurs. A drunk driving accident can definitely bring your holiday joy to a screeching halt.
No one in Georgia thinks it is a good idea to drink and drive. Any more than a minute amount of beer, wine or liquor can cause a lack of ability to drive safely, and thousands of people are killed in the United States every year by drunk driving incidents on the road. But changes in the laws that allow police and sheriffs to investigate drunk driving cases in Georgia mean that suspects should be aware of them.
Implied consent was the root of a recent ruling by the Georgia Supreme Court, now called the Elliott decision. The ruling included the idea that an alcohol level test taken by breath, also called a Breathalyzer, may not be involuntarily required from suspects because of the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of people's right to not incriminate themselves.
It's hard enough to keep yourself going in Georgia without being harassed by the law. Although police and prosecutors have a very important job keeping the Peach State safe, any excess by law enforcement officers can do more than ruin someone's day. It can lead to improper arrest and unwarranted jail time.
A pair of people were arrested in Tift County after a protracted investigation by local law enforcement authorities. A 31-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman, both from Ty Ty, are faced with a variety of charges related to drug possession and possible intent to distribute. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had been trailing the pair for three months before the arrest.
If you've been on a road in Georgia today, the chances are that you came close to a vehicle larger than yours. Tractor-trailers are carrying freight everywhere in the Peach State, and construction zones are hubs for heavy vehicles that are many times heavier than cars and pickup trucks.
Accidents with these vehicles can be very dangerous, often resulting in serious damage or severe injury. The weight and momentum of large trucks are hard to stop and may roll right over other vehicles. This is why truck drivers have to be licensed for and well-practiced with the convoys they run.
Riding a bike is getting more popular in Georgia as a way of getting around, especially in cities like Atlanta and Athens. Unfortunately, that means that injuries due to bicycle accidents are on the rise as well. Riders need to be vigilant to protect themselves, and drivers need to get used to seeing more two-wheeled vehicles in their midst.
A cyclist was injured in Savannah recently when a car struck him on the road. The 57-year-old man was transported to a local hospital for treatment after a sedan struck him when he changed lanes in front of it.
Wanting to avoid a car accident while traveling is a reasonable desire. You and many other people traveling the Georgia roadways undoubtedly want to hop in the car, drive to your destination and get back home without any negative incidents along the way. Though you cannot avoid all accidents because you cannot predict how other people will drive, you can help yourself stay safe by focusing on your own driving.
Safety should always be your top priority when behind the wheel of a car. You should make sure that you and any passengers buckle your seat belts, avoid distractions and follow the rules of the road. Of course, you may not be aware that some of your actions could cause issues for other drivers, particularly tractor-trailer drivers.
It's never a good idea to drink alcohol before the age of 21. Other than a few exceptions under Georgia law, such as drinking under parental supervision, minors are forbidden from intoxication for their own protection. Beyond legal issues, there are safety concerns for developing brains and people not yet used to controlling their level of intoxication.
But nothing bad happens in a vacuum. It takes the cooperation, or at least the willful ignorance, of someone to supply alcohol to minors. Beer distributors, liquor stores and bars are required by law in the Peach State to verify a customer's age before selling alcohol.
There are a few ways that a night of drinking could change your life, and few of them are good. An argument with a loved one could start a rift, or a drunken scuffle can lead to serious injuries. One of the worst messes that happens when a person is intoxicated is that the person may not even remember them.
The law enforcement authorities in Georgia may get involved if an intoxicated person is exhibiting dangerous or disorderly behavior. But perhaps the most common or well-known type of intervention is when police believe someone is driving a car or truck under the influence of alcohol.
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Law Offices of Adam M. Cain LLC
The Bottle Works
297 Prince Avenue Suite 24
Athens,
GA
30601
Phone:
706-395-5480
Fax:
706-549-4694
Athens Law Office Map