While many are feverishly preparing for guests, holiday menus and gifts for the upcoming celebrations, law enforcement and emergency responders in Virginia and around the country are preparing for the potential of an increased number of vehicle accidents. Not only does the weather at this time of year cause many fender benders – especially in the Eastern regions – but drunk, reckless, and negligent drivers are also a menace on our roads.
Family gatherings, work functions, and social engagements mean more people traveling the nation’s highways and there is also a high probability that intoxicated drivers also will be on the roads, as well.
Celebratory Drinks Turn Sour
Each year, there are more than 10,000 people killed in drunk driving crashes. Here in Virginia, more than 2,200 people were killed in a 10-year period. These tragic incidents increase during the holiday season.
A large part of many holiday parties is the consumption of alcohol. Obviously, the responsible intake of alcohol is the route to go, as is nominating a designated driver or arranging an Uber or taxi. Sadly, many people make the poor choice of getting behind the wheel after they have been drinking.
Law enforcement makes the point of heavier patrolling in more areas and setting up sobriety checkpoints to try and curb the incidence of accidents on the roads. But, every year, serious injuries and fatalities are reported by victims of crashes where a drunk driver was involved.
In fact, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), a person is injured in a drunk driving accident every two minutes in this country. And someone is killed by a drunk driver every 51 minutes. And those numbers increase even more during the holiday season.
Families want to cherish the memories of holiday cheer, and not have to face these times of the year with anguish because they have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident.
Those innocent drunk driving accident victims who are fortunate enough to survive often suffer short- or long-term injuries, such as loss of function of a limb, paralysis, brain damage, burns, and internal organ damage.
Contact a Virginia Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Unfortunately, no matter how many precautions you may take to stay safe, there are far too many other drivers on the road who fail to do the same. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we have successfully represented many families who have lost loved ones in drunk driving accidents. Each Virginia wrongful death attorney at our firm understands the devastation that families suffer, not only emotionally but financially. And although there is no amount of money that can make up for the tragic death of a loved one, a wrongful death settlement or award not only provides the family with financial compensation for their losses but also allows the family a form of justice in the civil court system, especially if there is an unsatisfactory resolution in the criminal courts.
Our personal injury law firm has been advocating for injured clients and their families since 1985 and will do all we can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case, like a $200,000 personal injury insurance settlement for one client who suffered a broken hip and a fractured vertebra when a highly intoxicated driver crashed into his car. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
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