Despite stricter laws, tougher enforcement and extensive public education campaigns, drunk drivers continue to be a leading cause of auto accidents especially during the holiday season. Driving while under the influence of alcohol remains one of the greatest risks to the safety of drivers. Drunk driving claims the lives of approximately 12,000 accident victims annually. Alcohol related fatalities constitute almost one-third of all motor vehicle accident fatalities. A person is killed in the U.S. by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. Over 1.4 million drivers are arrested for DUI annually which though a staggering number amounts to less than one percent of the 159 million self-reported cases of alcohol-impaired driving annually.
During the holiday season, the number of serious auto accidents spike as people drive home after drinking at Christmas and New Years Eve parties. A study showed that the number of fatality accidents in the U.S. rises from 36 per day to 54 per day during the New Years holiday. At Cummings and Cummings, L.L.C., we have been representing the victims of drunk drivers for over 20 years. We know the pain and anguish that accompanies such a tragedy and our team of caring attorneys will work closely with your family to help you deal with the tragedy and seek just compensation.
The most tragic aspect of drunk driving accidents is that they are easily prevented. The attorneys at Cummings & Cummings, L.L.C. aggressively pursue claims against drunk drivers responsible for car crashes involving serious injuries and fatalities. In Kansas, a driver can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) if the person operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) of .08 or more. If a chemical test at the time of a car accident establishes a driver’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit, the finding alone is often sufficient to establish liability. Tennessee drunk driving accident law not only provides for compensatory damages for your injuries and pain and suffering but also permits recovery of punitive damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish and discourage drunk drivers from engaging in the dangerous practice of getting behind the wheel of their car while intoxicated.
Social hosts or businesses that serve alcohol to a drunk driver may also be legally responsible for damages caused by alcohol related auto accidents. This is especially true where alcohol was sold to an underage person or to a person who was visibly intoxicated at the time of sale. Kansas law permits drunk driving accident lawyers to file suit against all responsible parties who contribute to drunk driving collisions. A business that is hosting a New Years Eve Party and serves a person who is obviously intoxicated may be liable for serious injuries caused by the drunk driver.
Many people attend New Years Eve parties without planning for a safe way home or arranging for a designated driver. Consuming any amount of alcohol will impair your judgment and affect your ability to drive a car, truck or SUV safely. Alcohol negatively adversely impacts one’s driving in a variety of ways:
• Reaction time for braking and maneuvering to avoid obstacles is slowed considerably
• Alcohol can cause double vision or blurred vision
• Judgment and decisionmaking are negatively affected
• Drivers who have been drinking have a greater tendency to fall asleep at the wheel
If you plan to attend a New Years Eve celebration where you may consume alcohol, you should arrange for a taxi, designated driver or some alternative mode of transportation. A drunk driving accident affects not only those involved in the accident but their families. A tragic car collision resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities is not the way to ring in the New Year.
In personal injury cases, we work hard to get our clients the maximum amount of compensation possible. Our clients can rely on the three decades of courtroom skill and experience we have to offer them. For a free consultation with one of our experienced Kansas auto accident lawyers, stop in and see us at our conveniently located downtown Wichita law office or contact us directly right now.
Cummings & Cummings, L.L.C.
129 East 2nd Street
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: (316) 264-1548
Fax: (316) 264-4704