Atlanta rapper Hussein Fatal, perhaps best known for his collaborations with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, died in a car accident outside the city on July 10. He was 42 years old.

The car he was traveling in was reportedly speeding when it hit an embankment and flipped over, ejecting Fatal. The accident occurred just after 2:30am. The driver, Fatal’s girlfriend, was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and first-degree vehicular manslaughter.

The ever-present dangers of drunk driving

There have been many media campaigns in recent years to reduce the hazardous practice of drunk driving, but unsafe drivers continue to plague our roads and highways. Nearly 13,000 people are killed in alcohol-related accidents each year throughout the United States, and 32 percent of fatal car accidents involve an intoxicated driver or pedestrian.

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream and is used to determine a driver’s level of intoxication. All states set the legal limit for BAC of .08 percent. At that level, the driver may experience poor muscle coordination, an inability to assess dangerous situations, impaired perception and trouble processing information, among other risks. Most deaths related to drunk driving occur when a motorist has a BAC level of .10 percent or higher.

Even if drivers are technically below the legal limit, however, they still risk putting others in danger. A BAC of .02 percent can cause impaired judgment and limit ability to multitask. At .05 percent, the driver has a slowed reaction time, poor visual perception and limited motor skills.

A drunk driver exposes fellow drivers and pedestrians to risks of serious and possibly fatal injuries, medical costs, lost income, post-traumatic stress and more. If you’ve been involved in a crash you believe was the result of drunk driving, speak with a knowledgeable Atlanta car accident attorney at McMenamy Law LLC.