Appleton DUI accident attorneys, drunk driving accidentsA recent drunk driving accident in Wisconsin led to the hospitalization of four people. The driver, who was allegedly rear-ended the other vehicle, was also checked for possible injuries before being jailed on charges for suspicion of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle. This incident, though tragic, is extremely common in the United States. It is so common, in fact, that it causes thousands of deaths and injuries each and every year.

The Scope of DUI Accidents in the United States

Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drunk driving accidents are responsible for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities each year. In 2014, the most recent year for which statistics are available, that death toll came to 9, 967 people. Of those, more than 1, 000 were children aged four and under. Another 209 children between the ages of four and 14 were killed in DUI accidents, and more than half were passengers of the alcohol-impaired driver.

Drivers with Prior Convictions More Likely to Cause Fatal Accidents

While any intoxicated driver can cause a fatal accident, a statistical analysis from the CDC found that drivers who were involved in a fatal traffic accident with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher were seven times more likely to have a previous conviction on their record. Even more concerning is that estimates suggest that the average drunk driver has driven intoxicated at least 80 times before experiencing his or her first arrest. This raises some serious flags when considering Wisconsin’s state law for repeat offenders, which continues to put countless innocent victims at risk.

Victims Need Aggressive Advocates

In the state of Wisconsin, it can take up to six DUI convictions before a habitually intoxicated driver ever spends any real time behind in prison. Prior to that, an  intoxicated driver may face license suspensions, interlock devices, therapy or rehabilitation. Unfortunately, statistics suggest that these means are not only ineffective at deterring future DUIs, they fail to protect innocent people from possible death or injury.

While a settlement can never bring back a loved one or return life to the way it was before an accident, we at [[title]] realize that it is not just about the money. It is about the loss you have experienced, and about getting dangerous drivers off the road. Skilled and compassionate, we will serve as aggressive advocates for you and your family to get you the compensation and justice you deserve. To learn more, call 920-739-7366 and schedule your free initial consultation with our Appleton DUI accident attorneys or Green Bay DUI accident attorneys today.

Sources:

http://www.wisn.com/news/four-in-hospital-after-crash-caused-by-intoxicated-driver/38482816

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

http://www.tnonline.com/2013/apr/12/drinking-and-driving-statistics

http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2014/07/15/prison-for-repeat-drunken-drivers/12668865/