In 2009, drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths. That works out to one person being killed in an alcohol-impaired accident about every 50 minutes in the United States.
According to the most recent statistics available, 33,808 people died in traffic related crashes in 2009, including 10,839 people who were killed in an alcohol-related crash. In that year, drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths.
Despite all the public service announcements, driver education courses and national efforts made by Mothers Against Drunk Driving – drinking and driving remains a major public health concern. Despite the amount of attention drinking and driving has received in the past three decades, people still drink and drive.
In 2006, one third of all fatal traffic crashes were caused by a drunk driver with a BAC over .08%.
Unfortunately, when one looks at the total number of crashes where alcohol was a factor at all (BAC above .01%), the death toll rises to 16,005 people who were killed in an alcohol-related crash that same year.
In drunk driving accidents, the median BAC level averages at twice the legal limit – a harrowing 0.17%. It is also important to note that drivers with a BAC of 0.15% or greater in fatal car accidents were nine times more likely to have a previous DUI conviction compared to drivers with no alcohol in their system.
In fact, when you compare an alcohol-impaired driver with a BAC of 0.15% with a driver who hasn’t been drinking, they are 380 times more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle fatal crash than a non-drinker.
The statistics are staggering; it’s surprising how many people get behind the wheel after having several drinks despite public awareness against drunk driving. When these people get behind the wheel, the consequences can be tragic, if not fatal.
When this happens, it is essential that the unwitting victims of drunk driving accidents get the help and compensation that is due. There is probably nothing worse than having an innocent person injured or killed as a result of another person’s reckless behavior. For this reason, the law allows the victims of drunk driving accidents to sue the responsible party in a personal injury lawsuit.
Since drunk driving is criminalized, the state will step in and impose criminal and administrative consequences upon a drunk driver. However, a personal injury lawsuit forces them to take financial responsibility for their actions in a way that also protects the victim.
It is common knowledge that drunk driving accidents can cause horrific injuries to the victim – therefore the victim can sue for compensatory and punitive damages. Your medical expenses, hospital bills, ambulance bills, lost wages and pain and suffering should all be covered under your claim. A personal injury attorney will be a vital asset when pursuing compensation from the liable party. They can assist you with accident reconstruction, hiring expert witnesses and challenging the insurance company. If you or a loved one were injured at the hands of a drunk driver, be sure to contact a lawyer right away.
