Drunk driving has been a public health
concern for decades. Educational programs, stricter laws, and public
service announcements have not yet stopped the problem. Anyone
whose life changes because of the carelessness of a drunk driver must
do all they can to protect their rights and to help remove bad
drivers from the road. It is vital everyone understands the risk.
Unimaginable Personal Losses
Drunk driving leads to over one life
lost every hour of the day in the United States. The average loss is
about 29
people per day. The deaths affect everyone that knows, loves, and
relies on the person killed. Lawyers that manage lawsuits
involving wrongful death and personal injury see the results
firsthand.
Families lose their breadwinner,
parents lose their children, and children lose their parents. Funeral
costs, medical expenses, and property damage bankrupt innocent
families, and once-healthy individuals become scarred or disabled for
life.
Excessive Accident Costs
The average cost per year for vehicle
crashes that involve alcohol exceeds $44 billion. The driver
responsible pays some costs, but many victims also face substantial
bills. Self-reported incidents of drunk driving, where no arrest
occurred, exceed 100 million people per year, and not being caught
does not mean these drivers did not cause damage.
It is possible that at least some
hit-and-run incidents happen because of drunk drivers. Victims of
hitand-run incidents could see their insurance rates increase if they
do not have uninsured motorist coverage. Everyone victimized in a
hit-and-run should take the steps lawyers recommend following any
accident to protect themselves and try to find the driver
responsible. Victims should:
- Leave the vehicle as found and
call the police
- Look for witnesses and any nearby
surveillance video.
- Record details about the driver
and the vehicle, if seen.
- Take photos or videos of the
scene.
If enough evidence is gathered, drunk
drivers may be identified and brought to justice.
Immense Public Cost
The $44 billion for vehicle crashes
does not include all the expenses to society for drunk driving.
Anyone not involved in a drunk driving accident may think it does not
affect them, but it does. The arrests of over one million drivers
took place in 2016 for impaired driving and this uses public services
paid for by all taxpayers.
An equivalent number of police officers
had to stop, investigate, and arrest and process the drivers. After
accidents, rescue personnel and road crews attend the scene, so they
are unavailable elsewhere. Each driver wastes taxpayer dollars by
overwhelming the court system and filling jails.
Estimates show the public cost totals
around $132
billion
each year in the United States. The cost includes lost
work time, medical expenses, and property damage, as well as traffic
delays and much more. The amounts cannot fully account for the losses
because there is no way to put a price on the lives lost.
Sudden Personal Responsibility
Drunk driving is a public concern, but
accidents are a very personal issue. People die because of the
actions of drunk drivers, and others have their lives changed
forever. It is good to forgive, but it is more important to protect
the well-being of the family. People may feel uncomfortable about
filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, but they should
not.
The compensation from lawsuits ensures
people can take care of their own needs without solely relying on
social programs or charity. A successful claim forces the driver to
take responsibility for their actions. The judgments can help people
to get the rehabilitation that lets them recover and return to work,
or it can enable families to continue to follow their goals.
Personal responsibility is a deterrent
to careless actions like drunk driving. Personal injury law makes
people take responsibility. At the Law
Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A.
, we can help you to get
compensation after an injury or loss due to an accident caused by an
intoxicated driver. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss
your case.
