If you’ve been in a wreck, you may need a personal injury lawyer in Clarksburg to help with your car accident claim. If the at-fault driver is found guilty of DUI, your case can be impacted in a big way. Consider these West Virginia statistics for drunk driving accidents.
Every West Virginia DUI car accident may be unique. Your personal injury lawyer in Clarksburg can be helpful with sorting things out if you are injured as a result of a drunk driver. The West Virginia DUI statistics listed below shed some light on the extent of the problem throughout the state. If you need to hire an attorney to file a personal injury case, look for a lawyer with a strong grasp of your specific needs, as well as an understanding of the big picture.
Sobering West Virginia DUI Car Accident Statistics
According to a May 2012 report from the West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health, West Virginia had a higher rate of alcohol-related fatal crashes (drivers with B
AC of 0.01 or higher) in comparison to the national average from 2005 to 2009. According to the data from the latest year available in the report, 2009, 40 percent of the state’s fatal accidents involved DUI.
Here’s a breakdown:
• 2005 – 122 out of 374 fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol.
• 2006 – 130 out of 410 fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol.
• 2007 – 165 out of 432 fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol.
• 2008 – 138 out of 378 fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol.
• 2009 – 134 out of 356 fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol.
In 2009, the number of alcohol-related crashes in West Virginia was 2.7 percent higher proportionally in relation to the rest of the country. The statistics paint a sobering picture. The percent of fatal crashes related to alcohol declined between 2005 and 2009, although it rose from 34.1 percent to 40.2 percent from 2008 to 2009, the most recent data included in the report.
When You’ve Been in a Car Accident, DUI Impacts Your Claim in a Big Way
A personal injury claim involving a DUI is unique in that the at-fault driver often has exhibited grossly negligent or reckless behavior. This may be more easily proven compared to some other cases with the combination of police reports and breathalyzer tests from the crash. A DUI accident often offers a clearer path for victims to prove that the other driver was at fault for their crash. Of course, all cases are different.
When you need to file this type of personal injury claim, your lawyer may recommend you wait until criminal proceedings against the other driver are finalized so that you can take advantage of courtroom rulings in your own case. Every case is different, though, so you’ll have to consult your attorney to be sure of how to proceed with the case.
Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer in Clarksburg About Your DUI Injury Case
At the Miley Legal Group, we work to help victims protect their car accident claims from insurance companies looking to reduce claim value. When a drunk driver’s negligence causes you or a loved one to suffer from severe injury, we’ll fight on your behalf for fair compensation. Don’t leave your case to chance. Contact us today at 1-304-326-1800.
