Many Americans know someone who was injured or killed in a drunk driving accident. Maybe it was you, or a loved one, or a family friend who got hurt. You might also know someone who was arrested and charged with a DUI. The fact is, drunk driving is a serious problem that persists in our country and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it.
Statistics published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the dangers and consequences associated with the decision to drive while intoxicated. Here is what the CDC’s latest statistics say:
- 10,265 victims were killed in drunk driving collisions in the United States in 2015. This figure accounts for a third of all traffic fatalities in our country.
- 1,132 children between the ages of 0 and 14 died in car accidents in 2015. Sixteen percent of these deaths were caused by drunk driving.
- 1.1 million drivers were arrested on drunk or drugged driving charges in 2015. However, this is only 1 percent of the estimated self-reported incidents of drunk driving that happen annually.
- 16 percent of vehicle crashes are caused by drugs.
- 13 percent of nighttime and weekend drivers have evidence of marijuana use coursing through their blood, and marijuana users have, statistically, a 25 percent higher chance of getting into a motor vehicle accident.
Did you or a loved one get hurt or killed by an impaired driver? You may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to recoup the financial damages caused by the incident.
Source: CDC, “Impaired Driving Fact Sheet,” accessed Sep. 21, 2017