Drunk Driving Statistics and Examples
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, two in three people will be involved in a DUI accident during their lifetime. Some other sobering statistics from MADD:
- A person is injured in a drunk driving accident every two minutes.
- Almost 29 million people admitted to driving drunk in 2013 — that is more people than the population of Texas.
- There are 27 drunk driving-related deaths every day in the United States.
- There are more than 300,000 incidents of drunk driving every day.
- The demographic most likely to drive drunk is 26 to 29-year-olds.
- Unsurprisingly, drunk driving is more likely to occur at night and on weekends — fatalities are more likely to occur at those times.
- People arrested for driving drunk are typically repeat offenders. Specifically, the average person arrested for driving drunk has driven drunk more than 80 times before being arrested for the first time.
- Fortunately, since MADD was founded in 1980 the amount of drunk driving fatalities has been cut in half.
- However, drunk driving is still a major problem. In 2014 there were more than a million people arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One-third of those were repeat offenders.
Unfortunately, there are numerous examples of DUI accidents that have resulted in death or injury. Here are two local examples where the victims (or, if fatal, the victim’s family) would likely be entitled to compensation for their injuries and other expenses.
High School Principal Almost Killed
A former high school principal was almost killed last year when a drunk driver crashed into a West Miami-Dade baseball field.
Marilyn Aguilera’s blood alcohol content level was almost three times above the legal limit when she crashed into Javier Perez, the South Dade High principal who at the time was coaching his son’s little league championship game. Perez was injured so badly that his legs had to be amputated.
The legal blood alcohol content level is .08, but Aguilera’s level was .227.
Deadly DUI Crash
In February 2017, the man allegedly responsible for a deadly DUI crash last year that also resulted in two serious injuries turned himself into the Florida Highway Patrol.
Oscar Acevedo, 29, turned himself in after an 11-month investigation. He is accused of driving under the influence and crashing into another car on the Sawgrass Expressway. His bond is set at $99,000; his conditions of release would prohibit him from driving anywhere but work and church. He would also be prohibited from drinking alcohol.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one are injured (or killed) by a drunk driver, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact a Miami personal injury attorney at The Pendas Law Firm today for a free consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Daytona and Bradenton areas.
Resources:
madd.org/drunk-driving/about/drunk-driving-statistics.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
miami.cbslocal.com/2017/02/16/man-charged-in-nearly-year-old-deadly-dui-crash/
miamiherald.com/news/local/article78073332.html
