Drunk driving is irresponsible, illegal, and dangerous. Sadly, thousands of drivers suffer in various ways from drunk driving accidents every year in the United States. If you or a loved one was the victim of a drunk driving accident, your life could be changed in many ways.
However, remember that you have legal options. Some victims can even recover compensation if a third party was driving under the influence of alcohol. If you are interested in learning more, contact the office of an Oklahoma City drunk driving accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, and a team member will be available to discuss your case during a free review. Call (844) 730-0233 today for more information.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
Drunk driving accidents are a very serious problem in the United States, and the statistics are startling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29 people lose their lives each day due to accidents involving a driver impaired by alcohol. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the number of lives lost in drunk driving accidents was greater than 10,500 in 2018 alone.
In addition to the tragic loss of life and severe injuries, drunk driving accidents can also result in devastating property loss and expenses. The damages from alcohol-related accidents equate to billions of dollars each year in property loss and healthcare expenses. If you or a loved one were affected by a drunk driving accident, you know first-hand how expensive the repercussions can be.
Alcohol affects the ability of drivers in many ways, causing cognitive and visual impairment and a loss of motor skills. This can make driving a vehicle very dangerous and illegal. In order to keep the roads safe and regulate alcohol consumption among drivers, each state has specific guidelines limiting the amount of alcohol intake a driver can legally consume. This is measured by their “blood alcohol concentration,” or “BAC.”
BAC
Legal limits on blood alcohol concentration vary. In Oklahoma, for example, the legal limit for BAC is 0.08, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO). Different levels of alcohol affect the body in varying ways. A blood alcohol concentration of .08 could cause muscle and motor skill impairment, while a BAC above .3 can be life-threatening.
If a person chooses to get behind the wheel with a BAC above the legal limit, this is drunk driving. It does not matter whether they are slightly over the legal limit or significantly past the legal BAC threshold. If your accident involved an impaired driver, you could have grounds for legal action. Contact the office of an Oklahoma City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer, Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to discuss your case with a team member.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Oklahoma City, call (844) 730-0233
How Accidents Affect Your Life
If you or a loved one were the victims of a drunk driving accident, your life might never be the same. Drunk driving accidents can lead to physical, emotional, and financial pain.
Injuries
Injuries from drunk driving accidents can be minor or severe, short-term, long-term, and even permanently disabling. While some accidents result in cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other minor injuries, more serious accidents can leave you with broken bones, trauma to the head and neck, and more. Even if you feel okay in the immediate aftermath of a drunk driving accident, remember that pain and injuries sometimes present themselves at a later date. It is also in your best interest to seek guidance from a medical professional following an accident of any kind.
Emotional Suffering
In addition to physical injuries, drunk driving accidents can take an emotional toll on victims. You could be experiencing stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and even forms of depression and PTSD. In some cases, victims require medical help in order to overcome the emotional effects of an accident.
Property Damage and Other Losses
Victims of drunk driving accidents also commonly experience vehicle damage and other forms of financial suffering. If you or a loved one were the victims, you could lose your vehicle and means to get to work and earn wages. You could be drowning in medical bills and struggling financially as a result of an accident that was caused by someone else.
Taking legal action is not for everyone, but you could find that pursuing justice in court could result in compensation, which can make life easier during your recovery.
Oklahoma City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Recovering Compensation by Filing a Legal Claim
There are many different types of potentially recoverable compensation for victims of drunk driving accidents. Because each case is unique, some victims find it helpful to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer. If you or a loved one were the victims of a drunk driving accident, the types of compensation potentially available could include the following:
- Reimbursement for legal fees, medical bills, and more
- Punitive damages
- Damages for emotional suffering
- Compensation for vehicle and property damages
- Damages for permanent injuries or disability caused by your accident
- Lost wages
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Exploring Your Options
If you or a loved one were the victims of a drunk driving accident, your life could be permanently affected in many negative ways. While you work hard to recover and return to a sense of normalcy, filing a legal claim might not be at the top of your priority list.
Nothing is more important than your health, but it is important to remember that you could be eligible for financial compensation by taking legal action against the responsible party.
To learn more about your options, contact us at (844) 730-0233 to learn more. A team member at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, is available to field your call and answer any questions you might have during a free, no-obligation consultation. You deserve justice. Take action today to learn what an Oklahoma City drunk driving accident lawyer can do for you.
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