Since the end of Prohibition, alcohol has become an unquestioned, legal beverage that can be found just about anywhere. For many Massachusetts residents, this can be concerning, and rightly so. This is because, while alcohol can be used responsibly, far too many individuals choose to drink to the point of intoxication and then drive. These impaired motorists can cause a serious, devastating collision, which may leave victims with disabilities or death.
One of the most troubling aspects of drugged and drunk driving is its prevalence. A study conducted by the FBI found that 300,000 people operate a motor vehicle while drunk every day. Sadly, only about 4,000 of these individuals are arrested for their acts, meaning that hundreds of thousands of others are out there each day putting innocent individuals in harm’s way. Other startling statistics include the fact that nearly half of high school sophomores admit to drinking alcohol and more than 10 million people reported that they had driven while under the influence of drugs in 2012.
Federal, state and local law enforcement have tried to implement measures to keep motorists safe from drunk drivers and so, too, have organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Though these efforts have decreased the number of drunk driving fatalities, there are still too many victims of drunk driving accidents, and these victims need more than a promise of more deterrents to progress in their recovery.
Since deterring efforts do little to help victims, they may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver who harmed them. If negligence can be shown to have caused the car wreck in question, and thus the victim’s damages, he or she may be awarded compensation for his or her losses. By imposing liability on a drunk driver, a victim may recover the money needed to make as full of a recovery as possible while at the same time punishing those who fail to obey the law.
Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, “Statistics.” accessed on Nov. 14, 2015
