On a daily basis, motorists share the road with other motorists. While many of these drivers decide to follow the rules of the road, some of these drivers fail to do so. In some cases, this may amount to traveling too fast or failing to signal a turn. However, this could be much more severe, such as getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. A drunk driving accident could have serious affects, causing a victim of the crash to suffer serious harms or even death.
Is the rate of drunk driving crashes getting worse? When looking at data going as far back as 1982, it was found that the rate of drunk driving fatalities in the country has decreased by 48%. Additionally, the total number of traffic fatalities since then has decreased by 16%. While progress has been made, this does not negate the fact that drunk drivers continue to wreck havoc on the roadways.
With regards to drunk drivers that knowingly and willing get behind the wheel of a vehicle, this trend has remained relatively unchanged for more than a decade. According to current data, 37,133 individuals died in traffic related crashes in 2017. Of these, 10,874 were killed in a crash involving a drunk driver. This means that almost a third of all fatal car crashes are due to drunk driving.
A drunk driver is a very dangerous factor on the roadways, as it is entirely preventable. It is due to the negligence of another motorist that the lives of other drivers and passengers are put at risk. Thus, following a drunk driving crash, it is possible for accident victims to hold a drunk driver liable. A personal injury action helps address losses suffered as well, helping a victim recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other related damages.