Despite all that is done to discourage drivers across the nation from drinking and driving, every year drivers still take to the road after consuming alcohol, putting their lives and the lives of others in danger. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2014, 24,895 people were convicted of a DUI, with an average BAC of 0.1416, well above the .08 legal limit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that Virginia’s drunk driving statistics are lower than the national average. Nationally, 1.9% of adults reported that they drove after drinking too much, whereas 1.4% of Virginians said they drove while drunk. However, the numbers are still alarming. In Virginia, 253 people died and 5,288 were injured in alcohol-related accidents, as stated by the Highway Safety Office’s 2013 Virginia Crash Facts. Many of these injuries are so severe that they can be life-altering, debilitating, costly, and impact the lives of the injured person’s loved ones.
Based on FBI crime statistics, it is estimated that, on any given day within the United States, there are 300,000 instances of individuals who choose to drive drunk. Not all of these incidents lead to an arrest, a conviction, or even an accident, but drunk drivers make the roads dangerous for others, both fellow drivers and pedestrians. This, not a chance anyone should take.
In the past year, drunk drivers accounted for 30.4% of traffic deaths in the state. Although Virginia is known for having some of the toughest laws against drunk driving, even one life lost to something so entirely avoidable is unacceptable and those responsible for such recklessness should be held accountable.
Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci has a team of seasoned Richmond auto accident lawyers, experienced assistants, and a full-time investigator. Our attention to detail and use of experts in several fields upholds our standard of leaving no stone unturned when handling a case. As a result, we have secured some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the state. Call us for a free consultation at (855) 936-1747.
