Drunk Driving Accidents In The US: What To Do If You’re Involved
Drunk driving is a problem that plagues America’s roads. Every day, people make the decision to get behind the wheel after drinking. This often leads to drunk driving crashes, some of which are serious or even fatal crashes. If you find yourself involved in a drunk driving accidents in the US, there are some things you should do in order to protect yourself and your rights.
Drunk driving crashes can be very serious, and it is crucial to take the right steps in order for everyone involved to stay safe. This article will discuss the steps you should take if you are involved in a drunk driving accident. The best way to ensure that your legal rights are protected after alcohol-related crashes is to consult with an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer. If you live in Florida or were involved in an accident with a drunk driver in the state, get in touch with Jared Spingarn, P.A. today. Jared’s team of accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and options, and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
What is alcohol-impaired driving?
Drunk driving is sometimes called “alcohol-impaired driving.” It means operating a vehicle (including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and snowmobiles) after drinking too much alcohol. It’s illegal in every state to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. This is true regardless of whether a person feels drunk or not. A BAC of 0.08 g/dL typically leads to impaired judgment, reduced alertness, and slower reflexes.
In some states such as California and Utah, drunk drivers may be charged with alcohol-impaired driving even if their BAC is only at 0.05 g/dL. This is to help prevent alcohol-impaired driving which can lead to fatal motor vehicle crashes. Additionally, alcohol-impaired drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes even if their BAC is below 0.08 g/dL, because they feel invincible and lucid on the road.
Involved in a Florida accident? Click the link to understand what Drinking and Driving (DUI) means.
What are the effects of a high blood alcohol concentration level?
Drunk drivers are significantly affected by the amount of alcohol in their system. At a BAC of 0.08 g/dL, drivers are about 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers with a BAC of 0.00 g/dL. Drivers with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.079 g/dL are about seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers who are sober.
At blood alcohol concentration levels that exceed the legal limit, the effects of drunk driving can include the following:
- Poor muscle coordination
- Slowed reflexes
- Impaired judgment
- Reduced ability to track moving objects
- Increased sleepiness
- Visual problems
- Decreased ability to process information quickly
What are the consequences of drunk driving?
Accidents caused by drunk drivers can be costly because there are many dangers of drunk driving. Drunk driving can lead to property damage, personal injuries, and even fatalities. It is important to be aware of these dangers and take precautions to avoid them.
The worst part of drunk driving crashes is that they are entirely preventable. Drunk drivers often do not know they are drunk, so they continue to operate a vehicle even if they are not fit to do so. They may think they are fine to drive because they do not feel drunk. However, drunk drivers are much more likely to get into accidents because their reflexes, judgment, and coordination are all impaired.
Additionally, alcohol-related fatal crashes often result in the death of innocent people. In drunk driving crashes, the drunk driver is usually the one who survives. This is because drunk drivers often have a higher tolerance for alcohol and are more likely to be wearing a seatbelt.
If you are involved in a drunk driving accident, you may be able to recover damages from the drunk driver. It is important to consult with an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. Call the drunk driving accident lawyers at the law firm of Jared Spingarn today. Jared’s team of accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and options, and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Drunk Driving Accidents in the US Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects drunk driving statistics annually. These statistics discuss the number of drunk driving accidents in the US. It includes fatal crashes caused by drunk driving as well as other factors that led to alcohol-related fatal crashes.
Drunk Driving Crashes & Fatalities
Thousands of car crashes occur every year in the US, and drunk driving fatal crashes contribute a significant number. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that drunk driving fatalities accounted for 20 percent of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2020.
Additionally, it is important to note that legally, persons who operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 g/dL are considered alcohol-impaired drivers. However, most alcohol-related crashes involved people who chose to drive drunk with a BAC far higher than the legal limit. Of the total number of traffic fatalities caused by drunk driving, 55 percent of drivers were found to have a BAC of 0.15 g/dL. Additionally, the highest number of traffic-related deaths that involved drunk driving had a person who chose to drive drunk with a BAC level of 0.17 g/dL.
Drunk Driving Deaths by Age
You may think that teenagers and young adults record the highest number of drunk driving deaths annually due to the urge to defy strict minimum drinking age laws. However, this is not always the case. According to the NHTSA, the age group that recorded the highest number of drunk driving fatalities in 2020 was the 25 to 34-year-old group or young drivers to middle-aged drivers. This age group recorded 3,100 drunk driving fatalities in 2020 alone, equal to 26 percent of the total number of drivers within the group.
In contrast, 790 fatal crashes involved an underage drinking driver, equal to 17 percent of the total number of drivers. Additionally, the 35 to 44-year-old age group recorded 2,004 alcohol-impaired driving crashes, equivalent to 23 percent of drivers.
Drunk Driving Deaths by Gender
When referring to the drunk driving statistics involving a male or female alcohol-impaired driver, most drunk driving accidents occurred with a male driver behind the wheel. A total of 8,482 cases of alcohol-impaired driving were found to be males, while 2,088 females were drunk driving.
What should I do if I get involved in a drunk driving crash?
As seen in the statistics, thousands of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities occur each year. Thus, many states have implemented drunk driving prevention programs to help reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities. If you, unfortunately, get involved in a drunk driving crash, follow these steps:
1. Get medical treatment for your injuries.
Alcohol-related accidents are often more severe than accidents that do not involve drunk drivers. As a result, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident. Getting the necessary medical treatment will also help to document the injuries you sustained in the accident, which will be helpful later on when filing a claim under your car insurance.
2. Call the police and file a report.
When the police arrive at the accident scene, they will likely ask you what happened. It is important to be honest with them and give them a detailed account of the events leading up to the accident. The police report can also be used as evidence when filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
3. Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage to your property.
Having visual evidence of the accident will also be helpful in supporting your version of events and any damages you incurred. Your car insurance company will likely try to downplay the extent of the damages so that they have to pay less on your claim. As a result, it is important to have as much evidence as possible to back up your claim.
4. Get the contact information of any witnesses.
If there are any eyewitnesses to the accident, be sure to get their contact information. Their testimony can be helpful in corroborating your account of what happened.
5. Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to an insurance company until you have consulted with an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer.
The insurance companies will likely try to take advantage of you if you are not represented by a lawyer. They may try to get you to sign away your rights or give a recorded statement that can be used against you later on. It is important to have a lawyer on your side who can protect your interests and help you recover the maximum compensation possible.
6. Contact an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
An experienced drunk driving accident lawyer will be able to review the evidence in your case and help you determine who is liable for your injuries. The drunk driver who caused your accident may also be liable for punitive damages. Thus, if you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, contact Jared Spingarn today to discuss your legal options.
Conclusion
Drunk driving accidents in the US occurred every 45 minutes in 2020, according to the latest data from the NHTSA. Being involved in an alcohol-related crash can be a traumatic experience; so if you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, it is important to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable accident attorney. In Florida, be sure to speak to Jared Spingarn. Jared has extensive experience handling drunk driving accident cases and can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Reach out to them today to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.
>> If you’re involved in a drunk driving accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on their Contact Us page.
