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.
Contact our lawyers at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (858) 551-2090 with a San Diego car accident lawyer.
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 San Diego car accident lawyer.
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.
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 1-858-280-0263 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.