Being involved in a car accident can be traumatic.
If a drunk driver is involved, it can be even worse. The drunk driver not only puts himself in a dangerous situation, but also puts the lives of innocent road users at risk.
Drinking and driving is when someone drives a vehicle after consuming alcohol. while the blood0.08 alcohol contentand low is considered safe to drive, driving after drinking can be deadly.
You may be wondering how many accidents are caused by drunk driving? While the stats have changed over the years, the answer might surprise you.
Read on to learn more about drunk driving statistics and what to do if you're in a car accident with a drunk driver.
Types of accidents caused by drunk drivers
If we look at the percentage of car accidents caused bydriving drunk, there are different ways in which an accident can happen.
Alcohol can impair a driver's judgement, including reaction time and coordination. This wrong decision can have deadly consequences. Here are some of the different types of accidents:
head-on collision
A drunk driver can fall asleep at the wheel and veer into oncoming traffic. They cannot read road signs, have less control over their movements, and can lose consciousness completely. This can result in a serious frontal collision.
collision from behind
A drunk driver's reaction time is much slower than a sober driver. A drunk driver may also be unable to judge the distance between two vehicles, making it easier for them to approach each other and eventually cause an accident.
pedestrian collision
When a driver is under the influence of alcohol, they are less likely to notice pedestrians, especially when driving at night. This can result in serious injury or even death to someone walking down the street innocently.
collision in the wrong direction
A drunk driver may not be able to read the license plate and see that you are going the wrong way on a one-way street. They may not even be able to see a freeway turn or exit, endangering other drivers on the road.
How many accidents are caused by drunk driving?
If you're wondering how many drunk driving deaths occur each year, the statistics might surprise you.
On average, drunk drivers are responsible for over 10,000 deaths each year. There are approximately 27 deaths per day caused by a drunk person behind the wheel of a vehicle.
According to the CDC, the number of fatal accidents due to drinking problems was 10,497 in 2016. These represent almost30% of all traffic accidentsdead. In addition, of the 1,233 deaths in children under the age of 14, 17% were related to alcohol disorders.
That same year, over a million drivers were arrested for drunk driving, including alcohol and narcotics.
Recent drunk driving statistics show that these accidents add up to more than $44 billion each year when fatalities and injuries are accounted for.
However, the number of deaths from drunk driving has declined since the 1980s. Deaths from drunk driving have fallen by 52% since 1982.
What to do after a drunk driving accident
There are some important steps you need to take if you are involved in a drunk driving accident. Depending on the level of your injury, you may not be able to follow some of these steps. However, everyone involved in the accident must do the following:
stay on stage
Stopping and staying where you are may seem like an obvious first step, but many drunk drivers will flee the scene, trying to avoid the consequences.
Whether you are on foot or in a vehicle during the accident, you must stop and remain as still as possible before reacting to the situation. You should only move your car if there is a potential hazard at the scene of an accident.
At this point you want to check if they are all ok.
Get help immediately
Assessing your injuries and making sure everyone is okay is the critical next step. Make sure you or someone close to you calls 911 and asks local police and paramedics for help.
It's important to know that auto insurance companies require you to call the police, so this is an important step in post-accident procedures.
Take photos of the scene of the accident
Taking photos and videos of the damage is very important in a car accident. Especially if the other driver is drunk.
Vehicle damage photos will be able to assess the speed and impact of the collision. It can also provide important information about the severity of the injury before driving to the hospital, the condition of the other driver and the layout of the road.
All of this will help reconstruct the accident and will help if you need to take the case to court.
testimony
Finally, one of the most important steps after an accident is the identification of witnesses. They need to get their contact information and their account of what happened. Witnesses can leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive, so it's important that you gather the necessary information.
How to hold a drunk driver accountable
Accidents caused by drunk driving can be detrimental to your physical and mental health.
Not only can a drunk driver cause serious injury, but psychological pain and suffering can also be severe. This can mean that you are no longer able to work, play sports or even take care of your children.
Additionally, a serious injury can result in costly medical bills, emergency room visits, and disability.
If you or someone you love is involved in a drunk car accident, you are entitled to compensation.
Opt for personal injury
After an accident, the police stop the drunk driver and stop them in the processfaced with DUI chargesand a possible prison sentence, the court will not seek any compensation for you.
A criminal process ensures that the drunk driver is punished for his actions, but offers no financial reward to the victim.
After the criminal case is completed, you must file a personal injury lawsuit in order to receive the compensation that is due to you. Even if the drunk driver was found not guilty in court, you can still file a lawsuit to show how the driver's negligence directly affected your life and health.
You can prove mental, physical and emotional damage caused by the accident and get compensation for these damages.
Claim compensation for your injuries
When you're claiming compensation for your injuries, it's important to consider all of the ways in which the accident affected your life.
The criminal negligence of a drunk driver's actions directly affected his ability to lead a peaceful, active and comfortable life. This means receiving both financial and non-financial compensation for the accident.
As mentioned above, you can do this after the criminal case is over. Once you have a damage list, make sure you have one.Trusted Personal Injury AttorneyCheck your list.
While certain damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, are easy to calculate, other damages are difficult to estimate. Lost time with loved ones, emotional distress, and declining mental health are significant losses that also deserve compensation.
ACar Accident Lawyercan help you understand the scope of your damage and provide an accurate list to make your claim.
Hire an attorney to protect your claims
A drunk driving accident can cost you a lot of time, money and emotional pain. It is also difficult to handle a delicate legal case alone.
If you want to protect your claim, get compensation for your injuries, and get the best out of your claim, you need the help of a car accident attorney.
Know the accident statistics caused by drunk driving
Although the number of fatalities from drunk driving has decreased, it is important to know how many accidents are caused by drunk driving each year. Being involved in a car accident can be traumatic and frightening, especially if the driver is drunk. Make sure you understand the steps to take after an accident and how to get the help you need and the compensation you are entitled to.
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