West Palm Beach Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Despite the successes of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD) during the 1990s, drunk driving is still a major problem in Florida, and throughout the U.S. In fact, alcohol contributes to almost one out of three traffic fatalities (29 percent), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver, or your loved one was killed, the West Palm Beach drunk driving accident attorneys at Hale Law can help you recover compensation for your damages from the at-fault party.
DRUNK DRIVING STATISTICS
Drunk driving is still pervasive here in the U.S. Due to lack of enforcement, weak state laws that allow drunk drivers to get their licenses back, and flimsy penalties, over 10,000 Americans are killed every year because of drunk driving. Hundreds of thousands more are seriously or permanently injured. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD), the following drunk driving statistics help explain why so many collisions are caused by intoxicated drivers.
- Roughly one third of drivers with a DUI conviction are repeat offenders;
- 50 to 75 percent of DUI convicts continue driving on a suspended license;
- Men are 400 percent more likely to cause a fatal DUI crash than women;
- 300,000 Americans drive while intoxicated every day, yet only 3,200 are arrested for DUIs. This amounts to a DUI arrest rate of just one percent.
HOW INTOXICATED DRIVING LEADS TO PREVENTABLE COLLISIONS
The illegal limit for operating a motor vehicle in Florida is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which means that 0.08 percent, or more, of a driver’s blood is made up of alcohol. However, even much lower BACs can lead to impairment. Just a single drink can significantly impair a driver’s abilities. There have been pushes to lower the BAC limit to 0.05 in some states, though these have been unsuccessful. Any amount of alcohol in a driver’s system causes the following impairments:
- Motor control;
- Judgement of speed and distance;
- Other information processing, such as brake and turn signals, traffic signs, and the movement of other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists;
- Concentration;
- Short term memory; and
- Risk assessment.
COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE MEANS THE DRUNK DRIVER MAY NOT BE FOUND LIABLE
The other driver’s intoxication does not mean they will automatically be held liable for the crash, or your damages. Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that any perceived fault of you, the non-impaired driver, in causing the crash can be used to reduce your compensation, which is why you always need an experienced attorney on your side in personal injury claims involving drunk drivers.
CALL OUR WEST PALM BEACH DRUNK DRIVING COLLISIONS LAWYERS
Whether you were an occupant of a motor vehicle, a motorcyclist, pedestrian, or bicyclist, we can help you sue the at-fault driver for maximum compensation to cover your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, and other damages. Call the West Palm Beach drunk driving injury attorneys at Hale Law today at 1-800-800-1414 to schedule a free case evaluation.