Personal Injury Blog

Thousands of Drivers Killed in Drunk Driving Accidents in 2008

There is no question that getting behind the wheel drunk is a bad idea.  Just look at the statistics and the number of fatalities every year caused by alcohol-related accidents.  The latest figures show that 8,027 drivers lost their lives in drunk driving accidents across the country.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of only 0.05 percent has an increased probability of getting into a fatal accident.  Reaching a 0.05 percent BAC doesn’t take much.

As you can imagine, the higher the BAC, the higher the risk of dying in a car accident.  In 2008, 5,897 drivers were killed who had BACs of 0.15 percent or higher.  Younger people seemed to be more likely to be involved in a fatal or nonfatal alcohol-related accident than older drivers.

Motorcyclists are also at risk of dying in a fatal accident if they have consumed alcohol before riding.  In fact, alcohol was a major factor in many of the motorcycle accident fatalities in 2008.

A drunk driving accident is usually catastrophic and leads to devastating injuries.  If you have been injured in a Tampa car accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  Contact the Law Offices of Lilly, O’Toole & Brown, LLP at 863-683-1111 for more information.