Drunk driving has been a major problem in America for the last 100 years or so. Believe it or not, despite all of the public awareness campaigns and private efforts by large groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, each year thousands of people are arrested for drunk driving in America, including some in Michigan. Even worse, drunk drivers are responsible for some of the most serious motor vehicle accidents that occur in America, leaving many people with catastrophic injuries that can ruin lives.
The statistics are scary
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 30 people die in America each day in motor vehicle accidents that involve drunk driving. As the NHTSA notes, that is approximately one death every 50 minutes. When that figure is extrapolated out to an entire year, the NHTSA statistics show that in one year alone – 2018 – over 10,500 people in America died in drunk driving car crashes.
Even though the number of drunk driving deaths in America has been falling in recent years, the fact that this issue remains such a major problem in our country is obviously quite frustrating. The worst part of drunk driving crashes is that they are entirely preventable. There is no good reason for getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming too much alcohol, or after becoming impaired by illegal drugs.
What you can do if injured
When Michigan residents suffer life-altering injuries in a car crash that was caused by a drunk driver, they may have legal options to consider. A personal injury lawsuit could result in the recovery of financial compensation that can be used to help cover the unexpected medical costs that arise in the aftermath of such a collision, among other costs.
