January 20, 2021 01:39 AM UTC

Injured Under the Influence: What To Do When Drunk Driving Causes A Crash

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• by: Phoner

The consumption of alcohol and other mind-altering substances yields cognitive impairments that make it difficult for a person to responsibly operate a vehicle. When a person drives while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he or she is at an increased risk of causing a traffic crash. DUI accidents cause significant harm to those involved. Because of the risks associated with this dangerous driving behavior, driving while intoxicated is illegal in all 50 states. Violation of this law can cause offenders to face significant legal repercussions. 

Drunk Driving is a Top Cause for Accident and Injury

Approximately 28 lives are lost each day to dui accidents. In 2019 alone, more than 10,000 Americans lost their lives in a crash involving a drunk driver. There were more than one million DUI arrests in 2016, just a fraction of the 111 self-reported instances of drunk driving that year. While the prevalence of fatalities and injuries from drunk driving has decreased over the last decade, this type of negligent driving behavior is still a significant factor in the rates of traffic crashes on a national scale. 

For Victims of Drunk Drivers

Victims of drunk driving accidents run the risk of sustaining serious, life-altering car accident injuries. In some instances, these injuries may be catastrophic, leading to permanent disability or early death. Common injuries that result from drunk driving crashes are broken bones, injuries to the neck and spine, traumatic brain injuries, loss of limb, damage to internal organs, and whiplash. These injuries can place a financial burden on victims due to high medical costs and lost wages during recovery time. Persons who are injured due to another party’s negligent driving can seek to recover damages through a personal injury claim.

Damages Recoverable for DUI Accident Victims 

A drunk driving accident victim has the opportunity to seek economic and non-economic compensation. Economic compensation focuses on equalizing the victim financially, with an emphasis on covering medical treatment costs, long-term care, the cost of medical equipment, lost wage reimbursement, and property damage. Non-economic compensation covers the intangible costs associated with an accident. These costs include the value of pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of independence. 

For Persons Arrested for DUI Charges

Each DUI circumstance is different, and therefore no two DUI cases may look exactly alike. There are, however, common steps that have to be taken throughout the legal system after a DUI occurs. Within every state there are unique courses of legal action, and each legal action may be handled on a case by case basis. DUI charges more often than not will lead to a legal battle and various fines. Along with those court processes and fines comes spikes in car insurance rates, a suspended license, and possible jail time.

Legal and Financial Repercussions for Drunk Drivers

Prolonged DUI cases can be tiresome, and a court may assign costly fines. Car insurance rates tend to spike for DUI offenders, and jail time may be of consequence. In some states,  a misdemeanor will be put on record. An Ignition Interlock Device may need to be installed while the driver takes classes to reobtain his or her license. Multiple DUI charges can leave a defendant facing 2-10 years in jail, and unreasonably high BAC levels are an automatic felony in some states.