Drunk driving arrests are far too often connected with serious vehicle accidents. According to a new study, arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs have decreased dramatically in California’s biggest city and some believe that this ongoing trend is thanks to ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

The University of California at Davis and other researchers recently completed a study finding that arrests for DUIs dropped by as much as 32% across San Diego.

Arrests for drunk driving may be in conjunction with the civil lawsuits filed on behalf of injured victims or the surviving family members of those who lost their loved ones in these devastating accidents. Unfortunately, the sad news about many DUI fatalities and DUI related accidents is that these injuries can be entirely prevented.

Data pulled from drunk driving arrests can tell a story about how common DUIs and drunk driving are throughout California. Even when an officer carries out drunk driving arrests, this is a matter handled separately from the civil case filed by a the victim of the accident. Drunk driving arrests are only one piece of the puzzle; an accident victim is still within his or her rights to investigate filing an injury claim to recover compensation.

A person who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol puts themselves and everyone else on the road at risk, but it is often the victims in DUI accidents who sustain the most severe injuries and devastating property damage. The only recourse available to a victim who has been hurt in a DUI accident is to file a lawsuit with the support of an experienced attorney.

If a DUI has been charged against a drunk driver, this information can also be used as evidence in your own personal injury claim filed with the help of a lawyer.