According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 37 people in the United States lose their lives in drunk driving crashes every day. Stated differently, that’s one life lost every 39 minutes. Last year, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths across our nation.
These numbers are alarmingly similar right here at home in Virginia as well. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 6,979 alcohol-related crashes throughout the state in the last year alone, resulting in 4,400 injuries and 293 fatalities. There are multiple reasons why 27% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related in Virginia last year.
Here, we discuss why the number of crashes involving alcohol is disproportionately high.
Reasons Why Drunk Driving Accidents in Virginia Lead to a Disproportionately High Number of Catastrophic Injuries & Fatalities
Drunk driving crashes are devastating because they often occur at high speeds and with little to no defensive action from the impaired driver, resulting in severe or fatal injuries.
Here’s why that is true:
Impaired Reaction Times: Alcohol significantly slows a driver’s ability to react to sudden changes, such as traffic lights, pedestrians, or unexpected maneuvers by other drivers, increasing the likelihood of severe accidents.
Rural Roads with Higher Speed Limits: Virginia has many rural roads where speed limits are higher, and drunk drivers are more likely to be traveling at unsafe speeds, resulting in high-impact crashes.
Limited Defensive Actions by Impaired Drivers: Drunk drivers often fail to engage in defensive actions like swerving or braking, which can sometimes mitigate the severity of accidents. Their diminished reflexes lead to full-force, high-speed collisions that tend to cause catastrophic damage.
Underestimation of Danger: Alcohol impairs judgment, leading intoxicated drivers to engage in riskier driving behaviors, such as speeding, running red lights, or tailgating, all of which increase the potential for severe accidents.
Weekend and Nighttime Driving: Drunk driving is more common during weekends and late-night hours, when roads may be less congested, leading impaired drivers to speed excessively. Accidents occurring at these times are often more severe.
Vulnerability of Other Road Users:Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to drunk drivers due to their limited protection. Drunk drivers may not see nor react to these road users in time, leading to deadly accidents.
Failure to Obey Traffic Laws: Drunk drivers are more likely to run stop signs and red lights or ignore lane boundaries, increasing the risk of intersection crashes and head-on collisions, which often result in fatalities or severe injuries.
Difficult Road Conditions: Virginia’s diverse road conditions, such as winding rural roads, poorly lit streets, and changing weather conditions, can be particularly hazardous for impaired drivers, leading to loss of control and severe accidents.
Increased Likelihood of Multiple-Vehicle Crashes: Drunk drivers are more prone to erratic driving, swerving, or crossing into oncoming traffic, which increases the chance of multi-vehicle crashes. These types of accidents often result in multiple fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
Aggressive Driving Behavior: Alcohol often contributes to aggressive or reckless driving behaviors, such as tailgating, speeding, and unsafe lane changes, all of which can lead to devastating crashes.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorney in Richmond Today
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed by a drunk driver in Virginia, contact our dedicated auto accident and injury attorneys in Richmond to discuss your case during a free consultation. We want to hear your story to ensure your voice is heard and work diligently to ensure you are treated fairly and get the justice you deserve in your case.
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