Early this June, a Chicago area rideshare passenger was fatally injured when the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by a drunk driver. The crash was caused when the impaired driver drifted into the other lane and collided head-on with the rideshare vehicle. In all, three victims suffered severe injuries, and one victim ultimately did not survive. The accident is yet another reminder of the on-going dangers of drunk driving.
Throughout the United States, roughly 29 people die in motor vehicle collisions involving alcohol impairment every single day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10,497 Americans died in alcohol related motor vehicle collisions in 2016 alone. If you or a member of your family is injured by a drunk driver in a motor vehicle collision, you should be sure to understand your options for recovering compensation from the person who caused your injuries.
A National Issue
Throughout the United States, law enforcement officials are diligently working to end drunk driving. The CDC states that more than one million drivers were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol in 2016. Still, the problem is becoming an increasingly difficult issue for law enforcement to handle. In all, 111 million Americans self-reported times in which they drove while they were intoxicated by alcohol. This means that law enforcement officials were only able to arrest under one percent of all offenders throughout 2016.
Drunk Driving in Illinois
Here in Illinois, drunk driving continues to cause concern for law enforcement and government officials alike. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 1,082 traffic fatalities in Illinois throughout 2016. The Illinois Department of Transportation estimates that alcohol is involved in just under 30% of all annual traffic fatalities throughout the state. In 2015, more than 250 Illinoisans were killed in drunk driving accidents.
Get the Help You Need From a Will County Car Accident Lawyer
Despite the diligent work of law enforcement officials, drunk driving is still a massive issue throughout the United States. If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle collision involving alcohol impairment, contacting a legal professional can be the first step towards moving forward. At Flaherty Law, LLC, we can provide guidance on how to pursue damages and work with you to recover the compensation your family deserves. For additional information, set up a free consultation with a Plainfield personal injury attorney by calling 815-860-5702.
Sources:
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/06/08/lyft-passenger-dead-2-others-injured-in-drunk-driving-accident/ https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/812450 http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Resources/Safety/Crash-Reports/crash-facts/2015%20Crash%20Facts%20with%20cover.pdf