Drunk drivers are a leading cause of accident-related deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), more than 42,000 people were killed in automobile accidents in 2006; drunk drivers caused more than 17,000 of these fatalities (which amounts to 40 percent of all vehicle accident deaths).
For 2010, NHTSA research shows that there were 10,228 alcohol-impaired fatalities, or an average of one death every 51 minutes. NHTSA data for the year 2010 also shows that approximately 70% of drunk driving deaths involved a driver with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of more than .15, and that the most frequently recorded BAC was .18, which is twice the legal limit in many states.
This is unacceptable.
This data shows that drunk drivers typically were not a little intoxicated, they were extremely intoxicated.
Data also shows that the midnight to 3 am time period is the deadliest time on roadways for drunk driving. Presumably this is due to the closing time of bars in most states, and the resulting flood of drunk drivers on the road after closing time.
Drunk Driver Liability
We believe that drunk drivers should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. While our firm cannot prosecute drunk drivers criminally, we can hold them, and the commercial establishments responsible for serving alcohol to those already intoxicated, liable in civil court for the full measure of damages they cause. The ability to hold commercial establishments liable for drunk driving accidents is referred to as “dram shop liability.”
Nothing, of course, can bring back a loved one wrongfully killed by a drunk driver. We can, and do, seek to send a message to bars, restaurants, and others who may be involved in drunk driving-related activities that their conduct will not be tolerated.
Call Us So That Important Drunk Driving Evidence Can Be Secured and Preserved
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, or a loved one has been killed by a drunk driver, please call us. It is critical that you hire a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible so that key evidence to your case can be secured and preserved, such as vehicles. It’s also vital that an accident investigation of the accident scene be undertaken before road conditions change.
Call me so that I can learn about your case. I will meet with you for free, and there is no fee unless and until damages are recovered for you. Once I learn about your case, I can advise you of your legal options to seek recovery, and how I and our firm will work tirelessly in seeking to win your case.