Of all the causes of car accidents in Connecticut and throughout the country, drunk driving is perhaps the most preventable. There are a series of reckless, inexcusable mistakes that drunk drivers make before each car accident they cause. First, they consume too much alcohol and become intoxicated. Then, they make the decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated. And then, they get into traffic near other vehicles and can’t handle the car they are driving. The ensuing car accidents caused by drunk drivers can devastate families, causing serious injuries and even fatalities.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 100 fatalities occur in Connecticut each year that can be directly attributed to alcohol-impaired driving. In 2015, there were 103 fatalities. The year before that, 2014, there were 97. And, the year before that, 2013, there were 126. Going back approximately 10 years, the statistics persistently show that 100 is about the average number of people who die in Connecticut each year due to the negligent and reckless behavior of drunk drivers.
Those who are fortunate enough to walk away from an accident that was caused by a drunk driver may suffer injuries. Sometimes these injuries can be quite serious.
Any Connecticut resident who has suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a drunk driver may be able to pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. In doing so, the victim will need to prove that the other driver was in fact intoxicated at the time of the crash. If the other driver is arrested and convicted on DUI charges, that can be powerful evidence in a civil lawsuit.
