Unfortunately, impaired driving is a costly problem. Each year, it leads to injuries, deaths, property damage and arrests. During 2010, an estimated 4 million adults reported driving while impaired, which led to millions of drunk driving-related incidents. Drunk driving-related accidents resulted in nearly 14,000 deaths annually, at an estimated cost to Americans of greater than $37 billion each year.
During 2010, alcohol was involved in nearly 50 percent of pedestrian accidents resulting in fatalities. Alcohol was involved in nearly 40 percent of car accidents that resulted in occupants being killed, and alcohol was involved in nearly 34 percent of bicycle accidents that resulted in death. Many efforts have been made by the states to reduce drunk driving and the impact of drunk driving. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) also makes efforts to ensure public safety on the roadways with impairment screening measures for government employees.
Accidents involving driving under the influence can have serious consequences and can take a toll on victims and their families. Victims of drunk driving accidents can suffer serious and debilitating physical injuries or worse in addition to emotional and financial harm that can result from the damage suffered in drunk driving accidents.
Fortunately, legal remedies are available to help injured victims recover compensation for their damages, which can be life-changing. Victims may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, among other types of damages depending on the exact facts and details of the situation they unexpectedly find themselves in.
Victims of drunk driving accidents should be familiar with the full range of resources available to them and their rights, if they have been harmed in a drunk driving accident. A negligent driver, such as a drunk driver, may be responsible to pay for the damages they have suffered, which can be valuable to victims struggling with their injuries following a drunk driving accident.
Source: DOT.gov, “Drunk Driving by the Numbers,” accessed on Aug. 8, 2015
