For some motorists in Massachusetts and other states across the nation, there probably came a time when they got behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. While this action is usually alright when a driver is under the legal limit, being intoxicated while operated a motor vehicle can be a very dangerous act. It not only places the life of the driver at risk but also those inside their vehicle as well as those sharing the road with the driver.
According to the Center for Disease Control And Prevention, 28 people die everyday in motor vehicle crashes that involve a driver impaired by alcohol. This amounts to roughly one death every 53 minutes.
When it comes to drivers being at a higher risk of causing a drunk driving accident, it was found that younger drivers are at a greater risk of being involved in a dui crash. This is true at all blood alcohol concentration. With regards to crashes in 2014 involving drivers with BAC levels of 0.08 percent or higher, three out of every 10 involved drunk drivers between the ages of 21 and 24.
Looking at the statistics from 2014, it was reported that 9,967 people were killed in a drunk driving crash. This number accounts for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. It was also reported that 1.1 million drivers were arrested for a DUI or narcotics offense; however, this only amount to one percent of the 121 million self-reported episodes of drunk driving among Americans each year.
Drunk driving is not only a risky action that could result in serious consequences, but it is also an action that could seriously injure or even kill another driver or passenger. If people of their loved ones have been harmed or killed by a drunk driver, it is important to understand their recourses. Liability could be placed on the drunk driver, allowing an accident victim to recover compensation for loses and damages arising from the crash.
Source: Cdc.gov, “Impaired Driving: Get the Facts,” accessed Sept. 11, 2016
