All Drunk Driving Accidents Are Preventable
As car accident lawyers, we believe that there is absolutely no reason that anyone should drive a car after drinking. Police officers across the country are also doubling their efforts to arrest DUI offenders, who often lose their license upon even their first such offense. There are many ways to combat this problem, but the easiest way to prevent a DUI is to educate people to make better decisions. Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and other organizations, are also committed to preventing drunk driving through education.
There are many ways that you can prevent drunk driving accidents. For instance, something as simple as a designated driver saves people from car accidents. By putting a sober person behind the wheel, everyone can feel free to have a good time at the bar without putting anyone’s life at risk on the road.
Another solution, this one on a large scale, was to raise the minimum drinking age nation-wide from 18-years old to 21 in July of 1984. In 2007 alone, 826 lives were saved by 21-year old minimum drinking age laws according to Traffic Safety Facts. In some states, DUI offenders are required to install a key-ignition lock on their car that has an attached breathalyzer. If these drivers attempt to drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, the car will not start.
As car accident attorneys, we have the ability to bring the wrongdoers to civil justice, while the criminal charges are left to the District Attorney. Sometimes, the D.A. will ask the injured person’s car accident attorney for help with restitution (a way for the DUI offender to make reparations for the harm that was caused).
The good news is that the drunk driving accident statistics have actually declined in recent years. The total number of fatal car accidents involving a DUI have declined for two years in a row (after a decade high of 13,582 in 2005), and the fatality rate, per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT), in car accidents hit a record low of 0.43 in 2007. These car accident statistics are still not low enough, but it is a start.
If we can continue to educate people on the dangers of drunk-driving (DUI) car accidents, then maybe we will one day eliminate these terrible auto accidents. Just remember, one drink is too many if you plan on driving, so always have a sober person take care of the driving.
Call Us Now if You’ve Been Injured by a Drunk Driver
If you’ve been injured in a car accident with a drunk driver then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced automobile accident attorney. Your insurance claim will be handled professionally at our San Diego law office, which has two decades of experience dealing primarily with automobile accident injuries.
We look forward to providing good advice so that you can make smart decisions about your case. There is no fee if no recovery.