Georgia DUI Accident Death Lawyers

Looking for a DUI Accident Death Attorney

A drunk driving accident death is one of the most preventable tragedies a family can experience. When an impaired driver chooses to get behind the wheel, the consequences can be catastrophic. In Georgia, DUI accident deaths occur at intersections, on rural highways, inside city traffic grids, and on major corridors that see heavy commuter and commercial traffic. Families are left with sudden grief, unanswered questions, and the overwhelming task of determining what comes next.

Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm represents Georgia families who have lost loved ones to drunk or impaired drivers. Our attorneys understand that wrongful death cases involving DUI drivers require immediate investigation, a firm understanding of Georgia traffic laws, and a compassionate approach to families navigating life after tragedy.

Understanding DUI Accident Deaths in Georgia

Georgia continues to see a significant number of fatal DUI crashes every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, impaired driving remains one of the most consistent causes of traffic fatalities nationwide. Georgia drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of substances often cause high-impact collisions that destroy lives instantly.

Common factors in DUI accident deaths include:

• Excessive speeding.
• Failure to brake.
• Drifting into oncoming traffic.
• Loss of lane control.
• Running red lights or stop signs.
• Poor judgment at intersections.
• Slow reaction time.

The choice to drink or use drugs before driving is not a mistake. It is a decision that places every person on the roadway at risk. When that decision causes a fatal crash, Georgia law allows families to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Where DUI Accident Deaths Often Occur in Georgia

Impaired driving deaths occur statewide, but certain types of roadways and intersections see higher concentrations of fatal crashes. Georgia has several corridors and city grids where traffic volume and design contribute to severe outcomes when an impaired driver is involved.

• High-Risk Intersections in Major Cities

Many DUI accident deaths happen at busy intersections where visibility, speed, and traffic patterns demand quick and accurate decision-making. Impaired drivers cannot meet those demands.

Examples of high-risk intersections include:

• Atlanta intersections along Peachtree Street, North Avenue, and the Downtown Connector access points.
• Savannah areas near Abercorn Street and DeRenne Avenue.
• Augusta intersections along Peach Orchard Road and Bobby Jones Expressway.
• Macon intersections at Mercer University Drive, Eisenhower Parkway, and Pio Nono Avenue.

These intersections experience frequent T-bone collisions, right-of-way violations, and red light running by impaired drivers.

• Georgia’s Most Dangerous Rural Highways

Many fatal DUI crashes occur on rural roads with limited lighting, high speed limits, and narrow shoulders. Impaired drivers often drift into oncoming traffic or fail to judge curves and elevation changes.

Areas throughout North Georgia, Middle Georgia, and the coastal region see significant impaired driving deaths on state routes and county roads.

• Pedestrian Crosswalk Fatalities

Impaired drivers struggle to see crosswalks, traffic signals, and pedestrians.

Fatal pedestrian crashes frequently occur at:

• Urban crosswalks with high foot traffic.
• Intersections near nightlife districts.
• Residential streets where drivers fail to slow down.

These tragedies often involve severe right-of-way violations.

Common Collision Types Involving Impaired Drivers

DUI accident deaths can happen in any collision, but several patterns occur frequently because impaired drivers cannot react quickly or follow traffic laws.

• T-Bone Collision Deaths

Side-impact crashes at intersections often occur when impaired drivers run red lights, fail to stop at signs, or misjudge oncoming traffic. T-bone collisions are among the most deadly because the point of impact is near the passenger compartment.

• Left-Turn Yield Failures

Georgia law requires drivers making a left turn to yield to oncoming traffic.

Impaired drivers often:

• Misjudge distance.
• Misinterpret speed.
• Fail to recognize an approaching vehicle.

These failures frequently lead to fatal head-on or angular impacts.

• Red Light Running Deaths

Drunk drivers run red lights at significantly higher rates because of delayed reaction time and poor situational awareness. Traffic camera footage and eyewitness testimony often become essential evidence in these cases.

• Wrong-Way Collisions

Impaired drivers sometimes enter highways or one-way streets incorrectly. Wrong-way crashes are often fatal because the combined speeds of vehicles create extreme impact forces.

How Red Light Cameras and Surveillance Footage Strengthen DUI Death Cases

Video evidence is one of the most powerful tools in DUI accident death investigations.

Georgia intersections equipped with red light cameras, private businesses, gas stations, and dash cams often capture:

• The driver’s direction of travel.
• Traffic light status.
• Speed behavior before impact.
• Lack of braking.
• Lane departures.
• Collision severity.

Footage can confirm impaired behavior, establish fault, and counter insurers’ attempts to shift blame. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve video before it is overwritten or deleted.

Right-of-Way Laws in Georgia and DUI Accident Death Liability

Georgia’s right-of-way rules are essential in proving negligence in DUI collisions.

Impaired drivers frequently violate these laws by:

• Entering intersections against a signal.
• Failing to yield when turning left.
• Ignoring pedestrian crosswalks.
• Failing to stop at stop signs.

When a drunk driver breaks a right-of-way law and causes a fatal crash, they are considered negligent as a matter of law.

Criminal Proceedings and Civil Wrongful Death Claims

When an impaired driver causes a fatal crash, Georgia may pursue criminal penalties that include DUI, vehicular homicide, or reckless driving charges.

However, criminal charges do not compensate the family. Criminal cases and civil wrongful death claims are separate proceedings.

A civil wrongful death claim allows families to recover the full value of their loved one’s life, which includes:

• Lost income and benefits.
• Loss of life experiences.

The estate may also pursue compensation for funeral costs, medical care, and the pain the victim experienced before death.

Proving Liability in a Georgia DUI Accident Death Case

Proving liability often requires demonstrating both impairment and negligence.

Our Georgia wrongful death attorneys gather evidence such as:

• Police reports and DUI testing data.
• Surveillance or red light camera footage.
• Eyewitness accounts.
• Event data recorder information.
• Blood alcohol concentration results.
• Statements from bar staff if overserving is suspected.
• Cell phone records.
• Crash reconstruction analysis.

Because DUI accident deaths involve criminal conduct, the evidence can be extensive. Our team understands how to obtain, preserve, and analyze this information.

Can Bars or Restaurants Be Held Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident Death

Georgia recognizes certain situations where a business may be responsible for over-serving an impaired person who later causes a fatal crash.

Known as dram shop liability, this applies when:

• A business knowingly serves alcohol to a noticeably intoxicated patron.
• The business knows the patron will soon be driving.

These claims require careful documentation, interviews, and expert review of service practices. Families often do not know whether overserving occurred until our attorneys begin digging into the facts.

What Makes DUI Accident Death Claims Different

These cases involve intentional misconduct rather than mere carelessness. The driver chose behavior that placed others in danger.

That choice influences:

• How liability is evaluated.
• How juries view wrongdoing.
• How damages are calculated.
• How aggressively insurers attempt to reduce payouts.

Our attorneys prepare every case with the expectation that the insurer may seek to minimize liability or assert that other factors caused the crash.

Georgia’s Statute of Limitations in DUI Accident Death Cases

Most wrongful death claims in Georgia must be filed within two years. Certain circumstances may delay the deadline, including criminal prosecutions.

Families should not wait to begin a claim because:

• Evidence disappears.
• Cameras overwrite recordings.
• Witnesses forget details.
• Vehicles are repaired or scrapped.

Immediate legal action is essential to protect the family’s rights. We can help, beginning with a free consultation.

Why Families Choose Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm

Families choose our law firm because:

• We represent wrongful death clients throughout Georgia.
• We understand the emotional weight of DUI fatality cases.
• We conduct detailed investigations.
• We secure evidence that others overlook.
• We hold impaired drivers accountable.
• We challenge insurance company tactics.
• We support families with clear communication.

We are committed to pursuing justice for those lost to preventable drunk driving collisions.

Your Family Can Start Moving Forward Today

If your family lost a loved one to an impaired driver in Georgia, you have the right to seek accountability and the full value of your loved one’s life. Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm stands ready to guide you through every step of the legal process.

Call 404-835-8080 or contact us online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win for your family.

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• The Devastating Impact of DUI-Related Wrongful Deaths in Georgia