Do Not Let Drinking and Driving Ruin Your Holidays
With the holiday season officially upon us, many weekends are bound to be spent at family get-togethers, work holiday parties, and social gatherings. While this usually means good times spent with ones you love, good foods, maybe some special presents that you have been hoping for all year, it also means the almost inevitable presence of alcoholic beverages. Sometimes it is hard to monitor your drinking when you are in the holiday spirit, and you may consume more than you intended. While no one wants to be a Grinch and prevent the spread of holiday cheer, it is important to remember the seriousness of drinking and driving and that it is important to look out for not only you, but also others around you.
Drinking-Related Accidents
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), it is estimated that 32% of fatal car crashes involve an intoxicated driver or pedestrian. In fact, the majority of drinking and driving crashes were caused by a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least .10%, with the national legal limit being .08%. When a person consumes alcohol, the alcohol will affect a person’s attentiveness and their ability to make quick decisions on the road, react to changes in the environment around you, and execute difficult maneuvers behind the wheel.
What Can Drunk Driving Victims Do?
The state of Florida provides a large array of rights for victims of drinking-related incidents. When an auto accident involving a drunk driver occurs, usually a civil and criminal case will arise from the single incident. A state prosecutor will handle the criminal side of the law and criminal charges will be brought by the state depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Regarding the civil side of a drinking-related case, the victim of the crash, or their family if a fatality occurred, may bring a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver in order to get compensation for injury or property damage.
Florida also allows, under certain circumstances, the victim of drinking-related accident to go after the facility that served the drunk driver and sue for negligence for allowing the patron to continue drinking and endangering citizens. Establishments will generally purchase extensive liquor liability insurance in order to protect them from lawsuits such as these.
Alcohol-Related Accident Statistics
The following statistics are based on 2012 drunk driving statistics in the state of Florida.
The average alcohol-related fatality in Florida costs $5.2 million dollars:
– $1.7 million dollars in monetary costs
– $3.5 million dollars in quality of life losses
The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averages $154,000:
– $73,000 dollars in monetary costs
– $81,000 dollars in quality of life losses
The average alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 17% of Florida’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $210 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.
Have You Been the Victim of a Drunk Driver?
If you have been injured or someone you know has been killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver, make sure you have a team of professionals on your side to hold the drunk driver liable for the any injury or fatality that occurred. Contact the attorneys at Boone & Davis and let us work for you to fight for your rights and get the just compensation that you deserve.
