If You Are Involved in a Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving is a maddening subject. It’s tragic, idiotic, and enraging however you look at it. Drunk drivers risk life and limb for no good reason. They selfishly overindulge in alcohol or other substances and before getting behind the wheel. Enforcing DUI laws takes valuable time away from law enforcement agencies and courts. It inconveniences the drunk driver and their family and may lead to years of embarrassment and consequences. In the modern age, it has never been easier to avoid drunk driving. Yet people choose to engage in this destructive behavior anyway. Perhaps the worst thing about drunk driving are the innocent motorists who suffer serious injury, loss of property, and emotional trauma through no fault of their own. These victims of drunk driving should outrage us all. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will cover what to do if you are involved in a drunk driving accident
Navigating the Aftermath of a Drunk Driving Accident
In the event of a drunk driving accident, there is no priority more urgent than your health. In the event of any pain or discomfort, seek medical attention immediately. But if you are awaiting an ambulance or otherwise capable of moving about the scene of the crash, there are several steps you can take.
- Call 911 – A police report will mean a hard record of your accident generated by an unbiased third-party source.
- Pull Your Car Out of Traffic – Obviously this may not be feasible if your car is immobilized due to damage or entanglement with another vehicle.
- Exchange Contact Details – Any drivers involved in the accident should exchange contact information along with insurance information.
- Take Pictures – Documenting the scene “as-is” in the immediate aftermath of the accident can be very useful in pursuing an insurance claim, criminal charges, or a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver
- Collect Witness Statements – If any eyewitnesses are present at the scene of the accident, their testimony can prove invaluable. Collect their names and contact details if they seem cooperative.
Drunk Driving and Negligence
In the case of a car accident where both drivers are sober and alert, the most difficult task for all parties involved is proving fault and therefore proving negligence. “Negligence” is a complex and nuanced legal term. Here it can be understood as basically meaning recklessness, carelessness, or irresponsibility. Occasionally, this is a simple proposition. A driver running a red light and causing an accident is in violation of the law and therefore plainly negligent. It is usually not this cut and dry and thus subject to interpretation and debate up to and including a civil trial. However, in the case of drunk driving, negligence is obvious. It would take extreme negligence on the part of the sober driver, such as driving the wrong way down a one way street or extreme speeding, to bar them from recovery for their injuries suffered in a drunk driving accident.
The Data Behind Drunk Driving
An average of 37 Americans lose their lives in drunk driving accidents each day, according to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). That equates to one death every 39 minutes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 13,524 persons lost their lives in traffic accidents involving drivers who had an unlawful blood alcohol content in 2022. Another 2,337 people lost their lives in collisions involving drivers whose blood alcohol content was between 0.01 and 0.07. This indicates that around 37% of all traffic fatalities that year were caused by drunk driving.
These figures are startling. They become even more so when we realize that these fatalities only make up a small portion of all drunk driving cases. One million people are arrested for driving under the influence in the US each year, according to data gathered by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). However, even that number does not adequately represent the number of Americans who intentionally endanger their lives and the lives of the public at large by driving while intoxicated.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving accident, Malloy Law can help. Our team of personal injury specialists will evaluate your case free of charge and plot a course to maximum compensation. Don’t wait, contact Malloy Law today and let’s win your case.
