Shortly before the Super Bowl, Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid was involved in an accident that left two children in serious condition. One of those children, a five-year-old, is still in critical condition with a brain injury. The coach, son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, suffered injuries as well in the multi-car accident.
The crash occurred on the southbound ramp to Interstate 435 from Stadium Drive near Arrowhead Stadium. A car was disabled on the ramp and family members had arrived to offer assistance to the stranded occupants. As they were offering assistance, a truck, driven by Reid, struck both vehicles. The children in the vehicle were injured severely and taken to the hospital.
Reid told the officer at the scene that he had two or three drinks prior to driving. The officer also noted that he had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath. A field sobriety test was also conducted and signs of impairment were noted by police.
At this time, Britt Reid is being investigated for impairment by police. Most serious crashes, including those involving potential criminal aspects, can take weeks to investigate. Preliminary investigation revealed that Britt Reid has had multiple prior DUI contacts. According to the KCPD, it can take up to a month to put a case file together to send to prosecutors. Once prosecutors get the file, it can take weeks for them to decide on charges.
The Kansas City Chiefs responded to the incident by placing Britt Reid on administrative leave. The NFL also responded by releasing a statement saying that they are reviewing the matter under the NFL personal conduct policy and will monitor developments. If necessary, appropriate actions will be taken once law enforcement has completed its review.
DUI Accidents Are Severe
Unfortunately, this accident just highlights the severity of DUI accidents across the country. Impaired drivers put themselves and everyone else at risk when they drive drunk. In 2016 alone, 10,497 people died in alcohol-related driving accidents. This accounted for 28 percent of all traffic fatalities. Of those, 1,233 deaths occurred to children under the age of 14.
In Georgia, drunk drivers continue to be a problem on the roads. According to the CDC, the rate of drivers killed in drunk driving accidents in Georgia is just slightly lower than the national average. In one recent decade, nearly 3,700 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents.
Recently, Georgia ranked 23rd overall for drunk driving rates in 2018 with 308.7 DUI-related arrests per 100,000 people. In recent years, 25 percent of the traffic fatalities in Georgia were related to alcohol impairment.
DUI Accident Victims Need Someone On Their Side
If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a DUI accident, it is important to know that you are not alone. While the police investigate the criminal aspects of the accident, you need someone on your side that can fight for your rights in civil court.
DUI accidents are often severe and result in serious and life-threatening injuries. While you struggle to recover and put your life back together again, insurance companies may work around the clock to reduce your settlement and compensation. They may offer you a lowball settlement that is designed to protect their own bottom line. Yet, these settlements are just a fraction of what injured accident victims typically need to recover.
Never sign anything without first speaking to an experienced Atlanta Personal Injury lawyer!
Your attorney will need to investigate the accident and examine the evidence closely. They will then speak to eyewitnesses and attempt to locate all liable parties. By building a solid case against the negligent driver, your attorney can help you obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In addition, if your injuries are severe, you may be able to obtain money for the loss of future earnings, as well as long-term disabilities.
Contact Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers Today!
At Kim Law, we feel passionately about protecting injured accident victims in Atlanta. We know the devastating drunk drivers can inflict, and we work tirelessly to help injured DUI accident victims obtain the money they need to move forward into the future.
Give us the opportunity to show you why so many injured Atlanta accident victims and their families choose us to represent them after a crash. Call 404-587-8946 or fill out our confidential contact form. Just call and JUST WIN.
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