Personal Injury Law

Alcohol-Related Car Accidents

By Ward & Caggiano

Alcohol is a major factor in traffic accidents. As Orlando car accident lawyers we see too many needless tragedies. According to the NHTSA, there is an alcohol-related traffic fatality every 29 minutes. More than half of the 414 passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol-related crashes during 2006 were riding with a drinking driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).Each year, alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion, the organization said.

In 2006, 17,941 people died in alcohol-related accidents, the highest level since 1992. More than 41 percent of all crash fatalities in 2006 were because of drunk drivers, according to NHTSA. The FBI estimates that more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics (DUI) in 2004, the most recent year for which data is available.

The definition of a drunk driver is consistent throughout the United States. Every state (including the District of Columbia) defines impairment as driving with a blood alcohol content at or above 0.08 percent. All states have zero tolerance laws prohibiting drivers under the age of 21 from drinking and driving. Drinking drivers age 21 to 34 are responsible for more alcohol-related fatal crashes than any other age group, NHTSA said. They also are more likely to become repeat offender, and less likely to change their drinking and driving behavior.

Obviously much more needs to be done to make our roadways safe from those who drink and drive. Whether it is tougher laws or better enforcement too many innocent victims and their families suffer each year.

Full post as published by Orlando Car Accident Lawyer Blog on August 29, 2007 (boomark / email).