Alcohol-Related Accidents
The number of alcohol related car accidents is overwhelming. Unfortunately, these numbers do not seem to be going down. In fact, we live in a society where drinking is promoted in all types of media and at all all sorts of social gatherings.
Most impaired drivers will say that they only had a “few” drinks. But how many alcohol drinks are too many? When someone has been drinking alcohol, both their mental and motor skills become impaired. In many cases, the drunk driver has been over-served at a bar or restaurant. They continue to be served because alcohol sales are good for business, and owners are often not responsible enough to call a cab for their drunk patrons.
What you need to know is that if a bar patron is in an alcohol-related car accident and they seriously injury or kill someone, whether it is the passengers in their own car or drivers and passengers in other cars; not only is the drunk driver responsible, but the bar owner or server who provided the alcohol may be responsible, too.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured because of an alcohol-related car accident, talking to a law firm with experience in drunk driving cases just makes sense. Call Gerling Law in Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville today.
Facts about Drunk Driving in USA
- This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes - one every 50 minutes*.
- Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year+.
- Between 50-75% of people who have their licenses suspended for drunk driving continue to drive their vehicles.
- Accidents related to drunk driving take place every 45 minutes in the US.
Repeat Drunk Driving Offenders
A repeat drunk driver is someone who has not changed their habits even after being arrested several times; the trend has remained unchanged for the last decade. On an average, the blood alcohol content (BAC) in hardcore drunk drivers is found to be 0.15. The BAC of 68% of the arrested drivers in 2008 was 0.15. Around 3% of those involved in fatal accidents in 2008 were convicted for 'driving while intoxicated' (DWI) within the previous three years.
Have You Been Injured By a Drunk Driver?
Contact Gerling Law today!
*(NHTSA, 2009) Full cite: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ?2008 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment ? Highlights? DOT 811 172. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811172.pdf
+ (Taylor, et al 2002) Full cite: Taylor, Dexter; Miller, Ted; and Cox, Kenya. ?Impaired Driving in the United States Cost Fact Sheets.? Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2002. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/impaired_driving_pg2/US.htm