Maryland Accident Law Blog
Maryland State Police are cracking down on drunk drivers on the road. The effort is part of a nationwide initiative that will increase the number of blanket patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
The National Highway Safety Administration is also spearheading an $11 million national ad campaign called “Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest” that will air on radio and television.
The NHTSA says:
· In 2005, 16,885 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents.
· In Maryland, in 2004, 286 of the 643 traffic fatalities were alcohol-related.
According to the National Commission Against Drunk Driving:
· 46 people die in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents daily.
· DUI-related deaths account for 40% of all traffic crashes.
· 30% of all Americans stand the chance of being involved in an alcohol-related car accident during their lifetime.
· Every year, US police arrest approximately 1.5 million people for driving under the influence.
· The total economic cost for drunk driving accidents each year is $50 billion.
· Almost 80% of people involved were not wearing seatbelts at the time their traffic-related accident took place.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an alcohol-related traffic accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury claim can arise when someone is injured by someone else’s actions. If the person who caused the injury is determined to be legally responsible for the injury, they may be made to pay the injured person compensatory damages.
A personal injury lawyer can help you make your claim. Contact Lebowitz and Mzhen for more information.
Police Target Drunk Drivers In End-of-Summer Push, Gazette.net, August 23, 2006
16,885 Died In Alcohol Related Traffic Crashes Last Year, Reliableplant.com
Drunk Driving Facts, National Commission Against Drunk Driving (pdf)
Crash Statistics, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
Related Web Resources:
National Commission Against Drunk Driving
NHTSA & Partners Announce Tough New Approach to Drunk
Driving
, MADD Online (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)