Disability Law

Let this be one of your New Year's resolutions -- don't drink and drive.

After almost 37 years of representing auto accident victims, I have seen far more than my share of the misery drunk driving can cause. Everyone always thinks it won't happen to them, that even though they're a bit tipsy they'll be able to drive all right. Don't do it! The potential consequences are just too devastating. Have a designated driver or call a cab when you've had even a little too much to drink.

Here are the latest figures from Mothers Against Drunk Driving:

In Texas, 1,677 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006.

In the United States, nearly every 30 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol-related crash -- approximately 17,602 in 2006.

Of the 42,642 total traffic fatalities in 2006, 41 percent were alcohol-related.

Surveys estimate that 10.8 million people aged 12 to 20 years used alcohol in 2006. Of these, 7.2 million were binge drinkers, and 2.4 million were heavy drinkers.