Important Information About Drunk Drivers

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.

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.