Every year, thousands of people die in motor vehicle collisions that were caused by drunk drivers. These accidents are completely preventable and can have serious lasting consequences for both the drunk driver and anyone else involved. Below, we discuss the true costs of drunk driving.
Statistics on Drunk Driving
The statistics on drunk driving are staggering, despite the
well-known dangers associated with it. In 2018, 10,511 people died in drunk
driving accidents, according to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Traffic Safety Facts report. This
breaks down to:
- 30
alcohol-related traffic deaths each day
- 1
alcohol-related traffic death every 50 minutes
- 1
alcohol-related traffic injury every 2 minutes
Even though the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths has
decreased by one-third over the last 30 years according to the National Traffic
Safety Administration, drunk driving still results in the loss of over 10,000
people each year.
The higher a person's blood alcohol concentration, the
greater the effects of drunk driving and the higher the likelihood that a collision
will occur, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration.
Drunk driving collisions are nearly four times
more likely to occur during the night than during the day.
Dangers of Drunk Driving
Drunk driving can affect every aspect of driving, including:
- Physical
- Alcohol can slow your reflexes and decrease your reaction time. It can
also cause you to become drowsy and fall asleep at the wheel. Your gross
and fine motor skills may decline with an increase in alcohol consumption.
- Vision
- Too much alcohol can give you blurry vision and create problems tracking
moving objects. You may also misjudge the distance between you and other
vehicles.
- Cognitive - Alcohol can also affect the mental
functions that are involved in driving. For example, your judgment may be
impaired, causing you to take bigger risks. Your attention to driving may also
decrease.
Costs of Drunk Driving
Drunk driving results in annual costs of $44 billion,
according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This total
takes into account the costs of deaths and other damages caused by these
collisions. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving report that drunk driving costs
each adult American $500 every year.
However, these numbers are slight in comparison when considering
the real-world effects of injured victims and their families. Victims of drunk
driving accidents may suffer a variety of economic and non-economic damages,
including:
- Costs
to repair or replace their vehicle
- Towing
and rental car charges
- Past
and present medical expenses for emergency care and follow-up medical care
following a drunk driving accident
- Medical
expenses that are reasonably anticipated for the future to continue to
treat your injuries
- Lost
wages for time you missed from work while you were recovering or
employment benefits you use
- Lost
earning capacity if the accident left you permanently unconscious
- Pain
and suffering
- Mental
anguish
Because drunk drivers often cause extensive damages and may
not maintain insurance if they are a repeat offender, you may have to rely on
your own insurance to cover these expenses. A drunk driving accident lawyer can
consult with you and advise whether it is in your best interest to file a
lawsuit against the careless driver or if there are other potential sources of
compensation.
If the drunk driving collision causes the death of your
loved one, you and your family may have the following damages:
- Medical
expenses
- Funeral
and burial expenses
- Lost
inheritance
- Lost
support
- Lost companionship, love, and support
Legal Assistance with Drunk Driving Claims
If you were injured because of a drunk driver, you do not
have to go through this ordeal alone. A drunk driving lawyer can review the
circumstances of your claim and create a legal strategy based on them. Contact
the Law Offices
of Robert Dodson, P.A., to learn more.
