Labor Day means the end of summer for many people. That’s why Georgia roads and interstates are seemingly teeming over the long weekend with Georgians and visitors from other states on their last summer getaway. It also marks the beginning of the fall and winter holiday season, which includes other potentially dangerous days on the road around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
This year, Labor Day weekend was twice as deadly for Georgia motorists as it was last year when nine people were killed. The Georgia Department of Public Safety (GPS) says that 18 people were killed in car crashes throughout the state. Half of those fatal injuries occurred in the metro Atlanta area.
Last year, between the Friday evening prior to Labor Day until midnight that Monday, nine people died on Georgia roads.
Our state also saw more nonfatal crashes than last year. The GSP was called to investigate 446 crashes that occurred over the holiday weekend, as opposed to 398 last year.
Drunk driving arrests rose as well. This year saw 332 DUI arrests — a significant rise from 248 last year.
No matter how safely we drive, there’s no way to completely avoid encountering other drivers who aren’t so conscientious. Injuries suffered in a vehicle crash can impact a person for months, years and perhaps a lifetime.
The combination of medical bills, physical and rehabilitative therapy and lost income can have a devastating financial impact on a family. That’s why if you or a loved one was the victim of a negligent, reckless or impaired driver, it’s essential to explore your legal options for holding the at-fault driver responsible and seeking the compensation that you need and deserve to heal and move forward.