While driver error contributes to the vast majority of car accidents, one of the deadliest mistakes a motorist can make is drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
According to the NHTSA, approximately one-third of all traffic-related fatalities involve a drunk driver. In 2019, there were 10,142 deaths that occurred from drunk driving accidents. Despite this, there are about 1.5 million people arrested in any given year for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to drunkdrivingprevention.com.
If you were injured in a crash with a drunk or drugged driver, contact the Rudolph & Hammond Law Firm. A car accident lawyer in Scottsdale will gather evidence, structure your claim, handle settlement negotiations, and litigate your case if it goes to trial. Our attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience protecting the rights of the injured. Call 480-951-9700 to schedule a consultation.
Here are four sobering facts about drunk driving:
Fact 1: Drunk drivers killed more than 230 children in 2018.
No tragedy can match the devastation of losing a child. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers cause nearly 17 percent of all road deaths involving children younger than 14.
Fact 2: Arizona has a drunk driving fatality rate of 26.07 percent.
According to Arizona Dept of Transportation, alcohol contributes to 26.07 percent of all road fatalities in Arizona in 2019. More than 2,969 victims suffered injuries in drunk-driving accidents that same year.
Fact 3: Almost one-third of motorcycle fatalities involve alcohol.
According to the NHTSA, in 2019 there were 5,014 motorcyclists killed. Of those, 1,689 involved alcohol. Motorcycles offer no protection to riders and they are unstable, making them particularly dangerous to ride under the influence.
Fact 4: Fatal accidents involving alcohol are most likely to occur among young drivers.
Drivers between the ages 21 and 24 are more likely to drive under the influence than any other age group. In fact, this demographic is responsible for 30 percent of all drunk-driving fatalities. Following closely behind are the 25- to 34-year-olds, who account for 29 percent of these tragedies.
Although these statistics reveal the enormity of the drunk-driving epidemic, they do not show the hardship that victims and their families face after collisions. If you were injured by an intoxicated driver in Arizona, contact the Rudolph & Hammond Law Firm.
A Scottsdale accident attorney will handle the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on recovery. You may be entitled to compensation for lost income, health-care bills, and other damages. Call 480-951-9700 to schedule a consultation.