Drunk Driving Accident Statistics.

Before we get into these drunk driving statistics, our auto accident attorneys want you to know that you are not a statistic. You have family members (spouse, siblings or children) who depend on you for financial and emotional support. If a drunk driver harms you in anyway, it doesn’t matter what the data says. Your drunk driving (DUI) accident case should be viewed in its own context.

DUI Accident Facts & Statistics

During 2005, 16,885 people in the United States were killed in a drunk driving accident. Drunk driving accidents represent 39 percent of all fatal car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. In total, 254,000 people were injured in car accidents where the police reported that alcohol was present. In 2005, automobile accidents resulted in 4,329 deaths in California alone, and 40 percent of those wrongful deaths were caused by drunk drivers.

Sadly, many children’s injuries and wrongful deaths are caused by drunk drivers. Of all the wrongful deaths for children ages 14 and younger in 2004, 21 percent of them occurred in DUI car accidents. There is also concern for teenage drunk driving accidents, because they have low tolerance for alcohol consumption, as well as inexperience behind the wheel.

These drivers are considered to be legally driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and all across the San Diego and every city in the United States, law enforcement officials are cracking down on DUI laws to protect the other drivers on the road like you. If you or someone you know are injured in a car accident with a drunk driver, then you should think about consulting with an experienced auto accident attorney.

Don’t Rush Into a Settlement after a Drunk-Driving Accident

When drunk-driving car accidents occur, you may be left with serious injuries that change your life forever. Drunk-drivers need to be held accountable for their reckless actions, but you need a good auto accident attorney to handle your insurance claim to fulfill your needs.

Since 1992, our San Diego law offices have represented people who have been injured as a result of a drunk-driving accident. Our auto accident attorneys know that insurance companies tend to offer a low settlement right away to get the insurance claim cleared up. You only get one settlement for car accident injury claims. If you settle too quickly, before all of your injuries have fully healed, you might be stuck with medical bills and be unable to earn a living.

Do not try to fight the insurance company by yourself. If you hire an experienced auto accident attorney from the beginning then you are that much closer to achieving justice and receiving compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driving accident we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible following the accident at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced auto accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay anything until we recover money on your behalf.

Most Recent Blog Post

[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.