Each year, the national death toll from drunk drivers hits its peak during what should be a joyous season. The year-end holidays bring increased revelry, and thus increased drunk driving, leading to serious injuries and even death for innocent victims.
If a loved one in your family is such a victim, take comfort in the fact that you can fight back via a drunk driving lawsuit. A drunk driving lawyer or car accident attorney can press for financial compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
This form of legal action is necessary and vital, in that America's drunk driving toll is catastrophically high. In 2007 alone, 13,000 Americans died due to drunk drivers -- almost a third of all who died in traffic collisions. And in the state of Texas in 2008, drunk drivers slaughtered 975 persons. That's 28 per cent of the total traffic accident fatalities.
Probing further, more than 500,000 Americans have been killed by drunk drivers since 1982. Those deaths are more than all American combat deaths in every war since and including World War II. In other words, America suffers far more deaths from drunk drivers than from any foreign enemies. In effect, drunk driving carnage is part of an undeclared war that never ends.
The state of Texas has enhanced its laws to help police officers make drunk driving arrests. Beginning Sept. 1, 2009, officers were allowed to take blood samples to test blood alcohol levels (BAC) in suspected drunk drivers without first getting a warrant - which takes precious time. That can be done if the suspect already has a drunk driving record; if a victim besides the suspect dies or is expected to die; if a victim besides the suspect suffers injury and needs to be hospitalized; or if at least one passenger in a vehicle in the accident is a child under 15.
Further fighting drunk drivers is the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, a nationwide organization which has chapters throughout Texas. MADD helps drunk driving victims and their families or survivors to cope with grief, but that's not all. It also supports new laws to combat drunk driving carnage, including a law mandating breath-testing devices in cars to keep a drunk driver from starting the engine.
Though these strategies all can help, the horrible drunk driving toll continues. That's why it must be made clear to drunk drivers that they'll be held responsible for their actions, legally and economically. An experienced drunk driving lawyer or car accident attorney can send that message in a fight for legal justice. - 30558
If a loved one in your family is such a victim, take comfort in the fact that you can fight back via a drunk driving lawsuit. A drunk driving lawyer or car accident attorney can press for financial compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
This form of legal action is necessary and vital, in that America's drunk driving toll is catastrophically high. In 2007 alone, 13,000 Americans died due to drunk drivers -- almost a third of all who died in traffic collisions. And in the state of Texas in 2008, drunk drivers slaughtered 975 persons. That's 28 per cent of the total traffic accident fatalities.
Probing further, more than 500,000 Americans have been killed by drunk drivers since 1982. Those deaths are more than all American combat deaths in every war since and including World War II. In other words, America suffers far more deaths from drunk drivers than from any foreign enemies. In effect, drunk driving carnage is part of an undeclared war that never ends.
The state of Texas has enhanced its laws to help police officers make drunk driving arrests. Beginning Sept. 1, 2009, officers were allowed to take blood samples to test blood alcohol levels (BAC) in suspected drunk drivers without first getting a warrant - which takes precious time. That can be done if the suspect already has a drunk driving record; if a victim besides the suspect dies or is expected to die; if a victim besides the suspect suffers injury and needs to be hospitalized; or if at least one passenger in a vehicle in the accident is a child under 15.
Further fighting drunk drivers is the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, a nationwide organization which has chapters throughout Texas. MADD helps drunk driving victims and their families or survivors to cope with grief, but that's not all. It also supports new laws to combat drunk driving carnage, including a law mandating breath-testing devices in cars to keep a drunk driver from starting the engine.
Though these strategies all can help, the horrible drunk driving toll continues. That's why it must be made clear to drunk drivers that they'll be held responsible for their actions, legally and economically. An experienced drunk driving lawyer or car accident attorney can send that message in a fight for legal justice. - 30558
About the Author:
Jim S. Adler & Associates is a longtime Texas personal injury law firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Channelview. The law firm offers a free case review and represents victims of auto, car, SUV, truck, motorcycle, bus and other traffic accidents, as well as defective drug and defective medical device victims.
