Mothers Against Drunk Driving Warns Against Teenage Drinking During Prom Season. | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

The Virginia chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), along with local police departments, are seeking to warn motorists and teenagers alike of the dangers of underage drinking, particularly during prom season, when many teens will be out at dances and parties during the night. According to fallschurch.patch.com, the Fairfax County Police Department, in partnership with the Unified Prevention Coalition, developed a number of tips to ensure safe driving by teens; for instance, parents should be aware of where their children are at all times during prom night, and ensuring that they are not attending any parties at which alcohol is being served. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that underage drinking is a contributing factor to many teenage car accidents. 

We applaud the efforts of these organizations to reduce the incidences of underage drinking, which can lead to serious injuries and deaths (as can all drinking and driving).  Recently, Virginia toughened its underage DWI (driving while under the influence) laws; this was a welcome development, as around the same time it became clear that underage drinking was on the rise.  

At our Virginia personal injury law firm, we only represent victims of drunk driving; the negligence and irresponsibility of driving under the influence should always be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and compensation should be given to those who have been injured by the dangerous behavior. We are also very supportive of the efforts of individuals and groups to curb the harmful activity of underage drinking. Our VA personal injury attorneys have written an article that gives tips on how to protect your children from drunk drivers; you can read it by clicking here.

If you’ve been injured by a drunk or impaired driver, it’s important that you speak to a personal injury attorney to determine the best way to securing compensation and redress. Our personal injury lawyers at our Virginia-based law firm have much experience in defending victims of drunk drivers; recently we secured a $100,000 settlement for one of our clients who had been struck by a drunk driver while walking on the sidewalk, so we are familiar with both the devastating injuries drunk driving can cause, and how to best argue on our clients’ behalf for redress.

If you have any further questions related to personal injury claims, you can look at our Virginia law firm’s extensive library of FAQs.