The High Price of Driving While Intoxicated

Attorneys Serving Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Driving under the influence kills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that someone dies every 51 minutes in an accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver. When you add in collisions involving drivers under the influence of prescription medications and illegal drugs, the rate is even higher.

Of course, not all drunk driving accidents are fatal. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), someone is injured in a drunk driving crash every two minutes. This amounts to over 700 drunk driving injuries each day, and more than 262,000 every year. Many of these accidents leave innocent victims and their families reeling from permanent disabilities and other life-changing conditions.

The Facts on Drunk Driving

If these general statistics aren’t troubling enough, here are more troubling details. Data compiled by the CDC and MADD show that:

  • Roughly 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States result from accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers, and roughly 18 percent result from accidents involving drivers impaired by other drugs. This means that nearly half of all fatal accidents involve alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.
  • Roughly 25 percent of teens who die in car accidents are killed by a drunk driver.
  • Seventeen percent of traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 are the result of a drunk driver.
  • Adult drivers in the U.S. self-report driving under the influence of alcohol 112 million times per year, and the average drunk driver will drive under the influence 80 times before their first arrest.
  • Drivers with a prior conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) are six times more likely to cause a fatal accident.

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, MADD reports that more than a third of all traffic-related fatalities are attributable to drunk driving. It is alarming that these states’ numbers are above the national average, and at The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, we are committed to aiding in the fight against drunk driving.

How Can We Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents?

The best way to prevent drunk driving and drug-related accidents is to prevent people who are intoxicated from getting behind the wheel. This involves educating students and other members of the ministry on the risks of driving while intoxicated, and holding intoxicated drivers responsible for their actions. If people know they are likely to face harsh criminal penalties and enormous financial responsibility for causing drunk driving collisions, they will be more likely to think twice before putting themselves in a position where they may end up drunk or high in the driver’s seat. The CDC also recommends:

  • Active enforcement of DUI laws
  • Immediate suspension of intoxicated drivers’ licenses
  • Mandatory substance abuse assessment and treatment for DUI offenders
  • More aggressive business, government, and school action on intoxicated driving
  • Use of sobriety checkpoints

What Can You Do if You Have Been Injured or Have Lost a Loved One in a Drunk Driving Accident?

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, the best thing you can do for yourself and for others is to take action. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, not only can you seek compensation for your losses, but you may also be able to pursue a claim for punitive damages. For more information about how to take a stand against drunk driving, we encourage you to get in touch. Give us a call at (866) 452-6155 or contact the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC online today.