Car accidents kill thousands of people each year and injury countless more.  Our car accident lawyers know these statistics all too well.

So why would you ever want to make the statistics worse by drinking and driving?

Just a week ago — on Saturday, September 5, 2009 — a drunk-driving car accident killed former NFL player Jesse Mahelona.  He was just 26-years-old at the time of the auto accident.

According to police, Mahelona was driving west on Kealakehe Parkway when he drove his car into a cement barrier in an apparent single-car accident.  Police believe that drunk-driving and speeding caused the fatal car accident.

Mahelona was a fifth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2006, but he also played for the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons before retiring in 2007.  Before his NFL career, Mahelona played two seasons at the University of Tennessee.

He is survived by his wife and child, with a second baby on the way.

While Mahelona’s death is tragic, it was easily preventable.  Drunk-drivers are one of the top causes of auto accidents and wrongful deaths, and in this case, Mahelona’s decision to drink and drive likely killed him.

Don’t make the same mistake as Mahelona did.  There are ways that you can prevent this from happening you.  Check out our DUI prevention resources to make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to stop drunk-driving.

Call a cab or call a friend, but please don’t get behind the wheel after you’ve had a few to drink.  It just isn’t worth it.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or you can click here for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.  No fee if no recovery.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.