New Research Shows Many Drunk Driving Deaths Caused by Drivers with Twice Legal BAC Limit

In a new study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was found that 70 percent of drunk driving deaths in 2010 involved drivers with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher.

The report entitled “Prevalence of High BAC in Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatal Crashes,” shows that on average, one alcohol-related fatality occurred every 51 minutes across the United States in 2010. Additionally, the most frequently recorded BAC among intoxicated motorists involved in a drunk driving fatality was .18, which happens to be more than twice the legal limit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The NHTSA released this information right before the Labor Day holiday weekend to announce its nationwide initiative “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” While it is illegal in every state to get behind the wheel of a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of accidents resulting in serious personal injuries or wrongful death. A total of 10,228 drunk driving deaths occurred throughout the United States in 2010. The state of Florida accounted for 660 of these alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.

If you were injured or if someone you love died in a drunk driving accident, you are entitled to seek financial compensation for your losses. The Citrus County Auto Accident Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you ease the financial difficulties that come along with a drunk driving mishap whether you were harmed or lost someone close to you in Inverness, Crystal River, Beverly Hills, Lecanto, Homosassa, Dunnellon, Hernando, Sugarmill Woods, Citrus Springs or Floral City.

After a drunk driving accident, you may be forced to deal with numerous monetary costs as a result of your physical injuries. At Whittel & Melton, we can help you pursue compensation from the drunk driver who caused your accident, including damages for:

• Medical Bills
• Lost Wages
• Physical Pain and suffering
• Mental Anguish
• Permanent Disability

If a family member was killed in a drunk driving accident, we can assist you in pursuing a wrongful death case to recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, loss of income and emotional pain and suffering.

Due to the fact that drunk driving accidents are entirely preventable, these claims are handled a bit differently than other personal injury or wrongful death suits. A drunk driver is not only considered negligent, but also reckless, which means victims or surviving family members may be entitled to receive punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Punitive damages can greatly increase your total financial recovery.

Insurance companies will often try and settle an injury or wrongful death claim for far less than it’s worth. Before accepting a low offer, speak with the Citrus County Auto Accident Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton. Contact us today online or call 352-726-0078.