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Labor Day 2010 Weekend is Hear | Douglasville Accident Lawyer

Date: September 3rd - 6th
Location: Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee
Event: Drunk Driving Accidents | Douglasville Injury Attorneys

The Labor Day Weekend is here and Law Enforcement Officials across Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee will join together for “Hands Across the Border.” This event is to promote safety and decrease those drinking and driving on the roads and highways of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The goal is to reduce deaths and accidents that usually occur during a holiday period. There will be mobile units across the state equipped to process on the scene testing for drivers that may be drinking and driving. Along with looking for impaired drivers, law enforcement will also be in marked cars, and will be on the look out for speeders, tailgaters, improper passing and failing to signal.

Murphy & Associates handles auto accidents throughout the state of Georgia. If you have been involved in a car accident and there are questions of liability and/or negligence, please contact us, Douglasville Accident Lawyer, at (770) 577-3020. We offer of a free consultation with no obligation.

An Intern at the Governor’s Office was Involved in a DUI Auto Accident

Date: June 19, 2010
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Event: DUI Car Accident | Atlanta Accident Attorney

On Saturday, June 19, 2010, an intern at the Governor’s office was a victim in a fatal auto accident near Atlanta Station. According to the Associated Press, the driver of the vehicle is a resident of Newnan, Georgia, who was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI and reckless driving. The police stated the at-fault driver’s blood alcohol level was .229 which is nearly three times the legal limit in Georgia. She ran a red light at West Peachtree and 17th Streets when her vehicle smashed into the intern’s vehicle.

The Newnan woman waived her first court appearance yesterday in Fulton County. A judge set the bond  at $100,000.

At Murphy & Associates, we represent families who have lost loved ones in fatal car accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident please feel free to contact our firm at (770) 577-3020. We offer a free consultation with no obligation.

Drunk Driver Travels Wrong Way on I-85 Resulting in Fatal Car Accident

Date: April 25, 2010
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Event: Drunk Driving Car Accident | Douglasville Accident Attorney

According to the Dekalb County Police Department, Manuel Rivera, 26 years of age, was allegedly driving under the influence and caused a fatal car accident while driving the wrong way on Interstate 85. Mr. Rivera was driving a BMW traveling north while in the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 at the time of the accident. The BMW crashed into a Lexus in the center lane driven by Steven Naraine, 26 years of age, resident of Atlanta, Georgia.  Mr. Naraine’s vehicle was then hit by two other vehicles before resting in the right lane. Mr. Naraine passed away from the injuries sustained in this accident.

Mr. Rivera was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with injuries. He will be transported to the Dekalb County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, driving the wrong way and DUI.

Murphy & Associates handles fatal car accidents and drunken driving accidents cases in Georgia.  If you have lost a loved one and have questions with regards to negligence and liability, please contact our firm at (770)577-3020.  We offer a free consultation with no obligation.

DUI Car Accident on Interstate 20 in Douglas County

Date: April 18, 2010
Location: Douglasville, Georgia
Event: DUI Auto Accident | Douglasville Fatal Accident Lawyer

In Douglas County Magistrate Court yesterday, Zeferino Jarmillo Gomez made his first appearance on a first-degree vehicular homicide charge. Mr. Gomez’s cousin, Ms. Marcelo Gomez, passed away from injuries sustained in the Sunday car accident that occurred on Interstate 20.

Mr. Gomez was the driver of the vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 20 at a high rate of speed, according to the investigating officers. He lost control of the vehicle, striking the guard rail in the median of the interstate and Ms. Gomez was ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police officers on the scene, Mr. Gomez appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol prior to the accident. Mr. Gomez stated he lost control of the vehicle as he was changing lanes at about the same time another vehicle was changing lanes. Mr. Gomez’s blood alcohol level was .23.

Murphy & Associates handles DUI and Wrongful death claims. For a free consultation, call us at (770) 577-3020.

Drunk Drivers Targeted in Douglas County | Douglasville Personal Injury Attorney

Date: March 12, 2010
Location: Douglas County Georgia
Event: Fatal Auto Accident | Douglasville Personal Injury Attorney
Title: Drunk Drivers Targeted in Douglas County

On March 11,2010 Operation Rolling Thunder entered Douglas County Georgia. Several law enforcement agencies including county, city and state have been organized by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in an effort to decrease the number of deaths on Georgia Highways due to impaired driving. During the March 11 road checks in Douglas County a total of 57 arrests were made with 12 of those resulting in DUI charges. The Rolling Thunder Operation will remain in this area for a three month period and will set up random sobriety check points in this effort to make our roads safer.

According to Bob Dallas, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Douglas County’s roadway fatality rate for 2009 will pass the projected fatality rate by almost 122 percent.  These statistics show the urgent need for this type of program in the area.

Operation Rolling Thunder has help multiple counties throughout the state in combating traffic deaths as a direct result of impaired driving. Operation Rolling Thunder is expected to help Douglas County save lives and change the projected fatality rate drastically for the upcoming years. 

Vehicular Homicide: 30 Year Sentence | | Douglasville Accident Attorney

Date: February 22, 2010
Event: Fatal Car Accident | Douglasville Accident Attorney
Title: Vehicular Homicide: 30 Year Sentence

In August of 2008 Otuwa Otuwa was operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He was traveling at a high rate of speed on Lee Road near Old lee Road in Lithia Springs when his car left the road and struck a tree. Unfortunately Otuwa age 24 was not alone in the vehicle. His sister, Gracie Otuwa and a friend of her’s Andre Robert Houston were passengers in that vehicle and were killed. On Friday, February 19, 2010 Douglas County Superior Court Judge, David Emerson reduced the nine charges to two charges of vehicular homicide and sentenced Otuwa to 15 years for each death. Both Gracie Otuwa and Johnson had just graduated from college the day before the incident. Family members and friends spoke on behalf of not only the victims but the accused Otuwa as well. They implored the judge to sentence Otuwa to a rehabilitation program.

Murphy and Associates offer their condolences the family and friends of those involved in this tragic accident.

Three Car Accident Occurred in Albany, Georgia

Date: February 9, 2010
Location: Albany, Georgia
Event: DUI Accident | Atlanta Accident Lawyer

On Tuesday, February 9, 2010, a resident of Albany, Georgia was involved in a DUI auto accident on South Slappey Boulevard, according to the police officers on the scene. Mary Mathis, 49 years of age, was traveling northbound when her vehicle veered into the turning lane and hit two other vehicles, a Dodge Neon and a Toyota Camry. The two people in the Camry received medical treatment at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and were later released. Ms. Mathis also received medical treatment. She faces a DUI charge and an additional charge of failure to maintain lane.

Murphy & Associates handles car accidents throughout the State of Georgia. If you have been involved in an auto accident and there are questions of liability and/or negligence, please contact our firm at (770) 577-3020. In situations such as this where drinking and driving is involved, an injured victim may seek punitive damages against a at fault driver. We offer of a free consultation with no obligation.

Georgia State Patrol Awarded H.E.A.T. Grant | Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Lawyer | State of Georgia

A Warning for Holiday Travel: Drinking and Driving

During the holiday season, it’s a time to offer thanks, come together with your friends and family to celebrate the season, and enjoy the holiday celebrations. It’s a time of year when we look forward to celebration.  Sadly, holiday cheer can take the wrong turn when individuals who drink and drive cause accidents on the roadways.

Every November and December, auto accidents increase with alcohol consumption being involved. To minimize the tragic loss suffered during the holiday season, we at Murphy & Associates remind you to keep the following in mind:

If you are driving this holiday season, please be responsible for yourself and don’t drink. If you are drinking this holiday season, make sure you have a designated driver to take you home.

If you are planning to attend a holiday party, plan ahead of time to have a designated driver or stay at a hotel or motel nearby the party so you can walk to your destination.

If you are hosting a holiday party, be responsible in serving alcoholic beverages, such as making sure no one leaves and drives under the influence.

If you witness a drunk driver on the roadways at anytime, immediately call your local police department and report the driver’s behavior. Helping one another in keeping drunk drivers off the roadway saves lives.

Personal injury attorney James Murphy represents victims of car accidents caused by drunk drivers (or DUI offenders).  If you have any questions or need assistance from an accident attorney, contact Murphy & Associates, and James Murphy will answer your most pressing questions for free.  770-577-3020.

Two Injured in Effingham County, Georgia Car Accident | Georgia Accident Lawyer

Date: September 19, 2009
Location: Effingham County, Georgia
Event: Drunk Driving Car Wreck | Georgia Accident Attorney

In Effingham County, Georgia, a car accident occurred on Old River Road near Interstate 16 exit. According to the Georgia State Patrol, a white vehicle was traveling southbound on Old River Road when the driver turned into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck was transported to a nearby Savannah hospital for minor injuries sustained in the car crash. The driver of the white vehicle was lifeflighted to Memorial Medical Center for serious injuries.

Charges in this auto accident are still pending against the white vehicle for suspicious of an alcohol-related accident.

Murphy & Associates handles car accidents throughout the State of Georgia. If you have been involved in an auto accident and there are questions of liability and/or negligence, please contact our firm at (770) 577-3020. In situations such as this where drinking and driving is involved, an injured victim may seek punitive damages against a at fault driver. We offer of a free consultation with no obligation.

Augusta Resident Involved in Three-Car Wreck | Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer

Date: September 12, 2009
Location: Augusta, Georgia
Event: Fatal Drunk Driving Accident | Georgia Auto Accident Lawyer

In Augusta, Georgia, a life was taken after a three-car crash occurred on Mike Padgett Highway. Earl Clark, fifty-three years of age, resided on Mike Padgett Highway in Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Clark was transported to Medical College of Georgia and died of injuries sustained in the car wreck. According to the Chief Deputy Coroner, Mr. Clark was operating his Toyota Camry when he asked his passenger, Karen Lamberson to take over the steering wheel because he was weaving. Ms. Lamberson was traveling northbound on Mike Padgett Highway when she attempted to make a left hand turn onto Clark Road. Two other vehicles hit the passenger side of Mr. Clark’s vehicle and Mr. Clark was extricated from the vehicle.

The investigation of this fatal auto accident suspects alcohol was implicated. As a result, Ms. Lamberson has charges pending against her concerning this auto accident.

Murphy & Associates handles fatal car accident cases in surrounding areas of Georgia, and we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Earl Clark. If you have lost a loved one, please contact our firm at (770) 577-3020. We offer a free consultation with no obligation.

Cherokee County School Teacher Injured in Car Accident | Georgia Accident Lawyer

Date: September 1, 2009
Location: Cherokee County, Georgia
Event: Drunk Driving Car Accident | Georgia Accident Attorney

In Cherokee County, Georgia, an auto accident occurred when a vehicle crashed into another vehicle head-on. According to the Cherokee County Sheriffs Deputies, Nickolas Miller, twenty two years of age and an Acworth, Georgia resident, was arrested for crashing his vehicle into another vehicle head-on. The victim of this car accident, a Cherokee County school teacher, Deborah Walton, fifty six years of age, received severe injuries.

Mr. Miller was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, serious injury by motor vehicle, disobeying a traffic control device, reckless driving and theft of a motor vehicle. Mr. Miller was transported to a nearby hospital for broken bones. Ms. Walton was also transported to the hospital and still remains under hospital care from injuries sustained in the accident.

Drunk driving accident victims and their families often have many questions regarding their rights, such as, what to do after an accident, and how to find the medical treatment they need if they don’t have health insurance. For more information on how to receive medical care with little or no health insurance, feel free to call our office at 770-577-3020.

Drunk driver responsible for crash that killed Mom and son

Date:  August 24, 2009
Location: Douglas County
Event:  Fatal Drunk Driving Accident | Georgia Accident Attorn

An accident claimed the lives of Ashley Ingalsbe and her four year old son early Monday morning. (August 24)  The accident occurred when Natasha Searcy crossed the centerline, on Skyview Drive in Douglas County, plowed into a Toyota head-on, investigators said.   Natasha Searcy, the driver responsible for causing the fatal accident was drunk according to police.

The Georgia State Patrol has reported that everybody was buckled up and car seats were also in use.  An infant in the Toyota was also seriously injured.  Searcy was taken to WellStar Cobb Hospital for minor injuries.

The road was closed for much of the early morning rush hour.   The Georgia State Patrol indicated that their specialized collision reconstruction team would be doing the reconstruction of the accident scene.

Natasha Searcy, twenty-two years old,  has been charged with vehicular homicide in the first and second degrees, driving under the influence,  failure to maintain lane and driving without insurance.  She was denied bond on Tuesday, August 25.  She is currently in the Douglas County Jail under suicide watch.

Murphy & Associates handles fatal car accidents and drunken driving accidents cases in Georgia and we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ashley Ingalsbe.  If you have lost a loved one and have questions with regards to negligence and liability, please contact our firm at (770)577-1030.  We offer a free consultation with no obligation.

New Georgia State Laws for Alcohol and Crime | Atlanta & Douglasville DUI Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driver Sent 3 to Atlanta Hospitals After Car Accident | Atlanta DUI Accident Attorney

Athens-Clarke area police have confirmed that Sunday night's car accident on U.S. Highway 78 that sent three people to Atlanta area hospitals was caused by a drunk driver, according to Roger Nielsen of the Athens Banner-Herald online.  According to the article, the drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into a Nissan Sentra on Hwy. 78 while traveling toward Athens in an SUV.  Three people in the Sentra, one of them only 6-years-old, were seriously injured in the crash, and others became involved when the collision damaged a third car.   All three injured passengers were sent via helicopter to Atlanta hospitals:  the driver, Rachel Stockwell, 40, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and was in serious condition as of Monday afternoon; 40-year-old Gregory Stockwell was in stable condition at Atlanta Medical Center; and 6-year-old Sara Stockwell was sent to Egleston Children's Hospital but was expected to be released Monday.  The driver who was under the influence of alcohol was also said to have caused other injuries by the car accident.  At Murphy & Associates, we hope for the full and fast recovery of all the injured. 

Drunk driving accident victims and their families often have many questions regarding their rights, what to do after their accidents, and how to find the medical treatment they need.  For more information on how to receive medical care with little or no health insurance, feel free to call our office.  We will answer any questions you may have for free with compassion and professionalism.  770-577-3020.

Warner Robins Residents Involved in Serious Accident

Date:   April 6, 2009
Place: Warner Robins, Georgia
Event:  Three Car Crash in Georgia

A resident in Warner Robins, Georgia, was charged with DUI and citied for several traffic offenses including serious injury by vehicle causing a three car crash on U.S. Route 41. According to local police, Jose E. Burgos-Guevara, 29 years of age, was in custody at the Houston County jail for the cause of the accident.

Seven victims were involved in the three car crash on U.S. Route 41 and were taken to The Medical Center of Central Georgia. All the victims were released late Sunday night from the hospital except a 5-year-old boy who suffered serious facial injuries that will need surgery.

The police report states that Jose E. Burgos-Guevara was driving a Ford Ranger traveling southbound on U.S. Route 41. Tomieka Leverson Waller, 36 years of age, was driving a Nissan vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. Route 41. Ms. Waller had her two minor children in the vehicle including the 5 year old boy, who suffered the facial injuries.

John Norman Burrows, age 28, was driving a Dodge traveling behind Ms. Waller’s sport utility vehicle. Mr. Burrows was not alone in his vehicle he had an adult passenger and a minor child in his vehicle.

Mr. Burgos-Guevara was cited for failing to maintain the southbound lane while crossing over into the northbound lane were Ms. Waller and Mr. Burrows were driving. Mr. Burgos-Guevara ran off the east side of the road on U.S. Route 41 before attempting to get back on the roadway, according to the accident report. Mr. Burgos-Guevara’s Ford Ranger sideswiped Ms. Waller’s vehicle, causing her vehicle to spin around before it came to a complete stop in the southbound lane on U.S. Route 41. Mr. Burgos-Guevara’s Ford Ranger rolled and landed on its passenger side and came to a complete stop in the northbound lane on U.S. Route 41.

According to the report, Mr. Burrows slammed on his brakes and attempted to stay clear of the auto accident in front of him, which forced him into a ditch on the west side of the road on U.S. Route 41.

All lanes were closed for two hours because of the crash.

If you have been injured by a driver who was cited with DUI, please feel free to call our office at 770-577-3020 for free answers to any questions you may have.

Driver Crashes into Building, Charged with DUI for Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs lead to DUI?  After an SUV crashed into a building in Albany, Georgia, Sunday evening, the woman driver was cited for DUI (driving under the influence), according to Jim Wallace of the WALB News website.  Perhaps surprisingly, the DUI charge was not linked to an alcohol-related accident, but to a crash caused by the influence of prescription drugs.  According to Wallace, Albany resident Deborah Davis, 57, was intoxicated on prescription drugs when she ran her vehicle through a building after leaving the roadway of Clark Avenue.  She received treatment for injuries at a local hospital. 

Although no others were reportedly injured in this accident, many DUI accidents involve injuries to innocent victims and result in large medical bills, lengthy pain and suffering, and other losses.  If you have taken prescription drugs, and the label warns against driving after taking them, take every precaution to avoid getting on the roadway.  If you have been injured by a driver who was cited with DUI, please feel free to call our office at 770-577-3020 for free answers to any questions you may have. 

Drunk Driving Accident on I-20 Injures Two, Driver Charged

A DUI accident in North Augusta, South Carolina, resulted in the woman driver turning herself in to authorities, according to the WJBF News Channel 6 website based in Georgia.   The site reports that 45-year-old Julie Pfinnig Lafon has been accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 20 (I-20) while intoxicated on January 31, 2009.  Booked and released on a $30,000 bond, Lafon was charged with two DUI counts following the crash, which injured two people when she struck an oncoming vehicle.  According to The Aiken Standard, one of the injured is still in the hospital and in critical condition.

Our law firm handles drunk driving accident cases that resulted in injury to innocent victims, and we hope for the fast and full recovery of the injured in this accident.  If you have been injured in car accident caused by a drunk driver, feel free to call us at Murphy & Associates for a free consultation with an experienced Georgia DUI accident lawyer.  We will answer all of your questions for free and evaluate your unique situation.  770-577-3020. 

Powder Springs Woman Charged for Serving Alcohol to Minor Killed in Car Accident

Serving alcohol to minors can lead to serious consequences in the state of Georgia, especially if it results in car accidents caused by driving under the influence (drunk driving).  Investigations following the tragic death of 16-year-old Harrison High School student Garrett Reed have led to the implemenation of those consequences for a Powder Springs woman, according to the 11 Alive website.  The online article reports that Kecia Whitfield, 43, has been arrested for serving alcoholic beverages to the teenager during a party at her home on January 25, 2009, the date of Reed's fatal car crash.  According to authorities, Garrett Reed's accident occurred soon after he left the party, and Cobb County police were holding Whitfield on a $10,000.00 bond at the time of the report.  If you are considering hosting a party and serving alcohol, make sure that no minors are served.  You could be held liable if they become involved in a DUI accident, and, even worse, you may see them injured or killed as a result of your actions.  Drunk driving accidents are serious matters.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident and has questions for an experienced DUI accident attorney, please feel free to call us.  We will answer your questions regarding liability, your rights, and other important issues for free.  770-577-3020.

Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Bumper of Police Car in Lumpkin County

University of Georgia Student Found Passed Out in Running Car

Falling asleep at the wheel and driving drunk, two of the most dangerous activities on the roads, leave many people booked on charges of DUI or reckless driving, but what happens if someone is guilty of both at once?  An Athens police officer helped to answer that question Sunday after finding a 20-year-old student from the University of Georgia passed out in her vehicle while it was still running.  According to the 11 Alive website, the student attempted to drive home after a party and passed out in her running vehicle while at a stop sign.  The car was still in "drive" when the officer found the woman around 2:00 a.m., and the student told police when she awoke that she had engaged in underage drinking at a party earlier that evening.  She was charged with underage drinking and DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol). 

Our law firm handles DUI accidents (drunk driving accidents), and we stress the importance of finding a designated driver if you have been drinking and need transportation.  If you have been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please feel free to call us with any questions you may have, and we will consult with you for free. 770-577-3020.

Middle Georgia's 3 Fatalities Linked to DUI, Say Officials

Of the 20 fatalities that occurred over the New Year's travel period in Georgia, three of them took place in the middle of the state, according to Liz Fabian of the Macon.com website.  All three of those fatal accidents were most likely alcohol-related, says Fabian.  In northeast Putnam County, Sheriff Howard Sills reports that fingerprints were taken in order to identify fatal crash victim Armando Ortiz, 34, on New Year's Eve.  According to Sills, alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the accident.   The other two car accidents occurred in the Dublin, Georgia, area:  one on New Year's Eve, which occurred on U.S. 80 when 30-year old Tanorrie Stephens was hit by a pickup truck after jumping from a moving vehicle, and the other on New Year's Day.  The January 1 accident killed Rentz resident Jermaine Wright, 34, when his vehicle struck a power pole.  Alcohol is suspected in both Dublin area accidents.

Our law firm handles DUI accident cases and fatal accident cases.  If you know someone who is planning to drive while under the influence of alcohol, make sure you find a designated driver for him or her.  If you have lost a loved one or been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please feel free to call us for free answers to any questions you may have.  We will answer your questions with compassion and professionalism.  770-577-3020.

Alcohol-Related Car Accident Kills Laurens County Man in Rentz, Georgia

Friend Shoots Paintballs at Car in Attempt to Prevent DUI

A new attempt at preventing drunk driving sent a man from Washington state to jail, according to the 11 Alive news website.  Police from Kennewick, Washington, arrested Shawn Wallace, 41, after responding to reports of the man shooting paintballs at a neighbor's vehicle on Tuesday evening, December 30.  According to reports, Wallace told police that his unusual act was an attempt to prevent his friend from driving under the influence of alcohol.  Though he asserts that finding a designated driver would have been a safer choice, Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin called the effort a "very creative" one.  Despite the unique quality of his efforts, Wallace was taken to the Benton County jail and faces a charge of "unlawfully discharging a weapon."  He was also booked due to a misdemeanor warrant from an unrelated incident. 

Though our law firm does not encourage such an unusual attempt at preventing others from driving drunk, we do assert that drunk driving must be prevented.  If you become aware of someone's plans to drive while under the influence, find a designated driver for him or her.  Our law firm represents clients who have been injured or lost loved ones in accidents caused by drunk drivers.  If you have experienced a similar situation, please feel free to call us with any questions you may have for an experienced DUI accident lawyer, and we will consult with you for free.  770-577-3020.  

GA State Patrol Receives Grant for Two DUI Programs

Our law firm handles DUI accident cases.  If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please feel free to call us at Murphy & Associates with any questions you may have.  We will consult with you for free with professionalism and compassion.  770-577-3020.