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The cost of the damage in accidents caused by drunk drivers is not only quantified in terms of its financial aspects. The authorities also take into consideration the cost in terms of human lives. According to the US Department of Transportation, at least one person dies every hour due to an alcohol-related accident. Another sad fact is that most of these casualties are composed of children who were either pedestrians or were riding in the same vehicle as the drunk driver. For information on legal representation, visit PietyHillDesign. This is why the government has tightened the laws that encompass people who drive while they are drunk under the influence. Some of the measures that have already been taken to prevent people from driving while intoxicated include: 1. Strict implementation of the rules on the acceptable Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Drivers could possibly avoid getting charged for driving while drunk is if their BACs are below .08%. However, there is still a chance that the driver could be arrested even if his BAC is .01% if the arresting officer finds probable cause. 2. Strict implementation of the minimum age for legally drinking alcoholic beverages. Previous statistics have shown a high percentage of teens that were driving while drunk under the influence and have since caused extensive damage to property and loss of lives. In most cases, the teen drivers were the very first casualties of the accidents. There are many other rules that have contributed greatly to the prevention of injuries associated with drunk driving. However, the government should not be alone in fighting the ill effects of DUI. The populace can also play an important role in bringing down the statistics. They can start by taking precautions to avoid getting into accidents and to make sure that the people around them are safe as well. These precautions would come in handy during the endless nights of painting the town red with your friends. One of the simplest precautions to take is to assign somebody to be the driver at the end of the night. That person has to remain sober at all costs. To even out the playing field, each person in the group can be assigned as the sober driver so that everyone can take turns in being the responsible adult of the group. Otherwise, you just might end up behind bars for driving while drunk under the influence and in need of the services of the best DUI lawyer in town.

Everyone knows that drunk driving is not only risky and dangerous for the one driving but also to his passengers (if there are any) and to other people on the road, like pedestrians or other drivers. In the United States alone, 30 people die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. That’s like one death occurring every 51 minutes!

Alarming Facts about Drunk Driving

In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents. That accounted for nearly 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. That same year, there were 1,149 reported traffic deaths among children aged 0 to 14 years. Of these, 200, or 17 percent, involved an alcohol-impaired driver, with 121 of these involving children who were riding in the vehicle of the guilty driver. Apparently, DUI costs federal and local governments, as well as American taxpayers, $51 billion each year. The figures are alarming and should be sobering. Sadly, though, half of Americans will still get behind the wheel of the car and drive while under the influence of alcohol, unmindful of the potential consequences. However, apart from lives lost and injuries sustained, there are other repercussions of drunk driving and the ensuing accidents.

Repercussions of Drunk Driving

Accidents caused by drunk drivers usually lead to serious, long-lasting legal consequences. If you happen to injure someone because of drunk driving, you would have to pay for your victim’s medical treatment and lost wages. You could also face legal charges, the penalties of which depend on the severity of the accident. The most common is arrest for driving under the influence, and more often than not, this incurs fines, suspension of your license, and other penalties. The worst case scenario is when you are charged with wrongful death, reckless driving, and a host of other criminal charges all because you were irresponsible enough to drive while buzzed from alcohol. When criminal charges are in place, you will need the help of a lawyer to ensure that these are legal and justified. For more information on legal representation, please visit americanguineahogassociation.org. Never expect to get out of it all scot-free. If you’re found guilty, there’s no other recourse but to face the consequences of your wrongdoing. It can be easier if you get a good lawyer to represent you such as a DUI Lawyer in Anaheim. Your lawyer will be there to help make sure you would still be entitled to your rights, as well as to handle the settlements with the aggrieved party. Keeping in mind all the repercussions of DUI should prevent you from doing it. Remember, aside from the expense and the possible legal charges, you would also have to live with guilt especially if your drunk driving took the life of another.