Drunk Drivers and Wrongful Death
Thousands of lives are lost every year as a direct result of the poor choices of drunk drivers. A driver under the influence of alcohol has an impaired ability to judge distances and speed, steer correctly, recognize visual clues, time braking, stay in the correct lane, and concentrate on maneuvering the vehicle. As a result, the likelihood of a deadly crash greatly increases.
In 2008, Pennsylvania was ranked number four out of the fifty states for its total number of alcohol-impaired vehicle fatalities. An alcohol-impaired fatality is the direct result of a driver over the legal limit of alcohol. Pennsylvania trailed behind only Texas, California, and Florida.
Drunk Driving in the United States
Drunk driving is a major problem not just in Pennsylvania, but throughout the United States. In fact, in 2008, almost 12,000 people died in vehicle crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol content of greater than the legal limit of .08, almost one-third of all traffic deaths that year. In addition:
- Almost one-third of all people in the U.S. will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives
- Of drivers who have had their licenses suspended due to drunk driving charges, 50 to 75 percent continue to drive despite their license suspension
- 70 percent of all teenagers aged 19 to 20 who do drink alcohol do so heavily, consuming 90 percent of all drinks consumed by teenagers
Drinking and driving has serious consequences. Always designate a sober driver or take public transportation if you plan to consume alcohol to prevent devastating accidents.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a drunk driver in a car accident, contact the Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 610-667-7511 for the caring and quality legal representation you deserve.