Unfortunately, drunk driving is very common throughout the United States. We all know how dangerous it is, yet the issue persists.
We’ve outlined some of the most shocking drunk driving-related injury statistics below to give you a better understanding of just how pervasive the issue truly is.
Someone Dies Every 48 Minutes Due to Drunk Driving
In 2017, a total of 10,874 people lost their lives as a result of drunk driving accidents. That equates to one fatality every 48 minutes.
During that same year, over 300,000 people sustained injuries in drunk driving wrecks.
The Impaired Driving Fatality Rate in North Carolina is Higher than the National Average
The national average percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities is 20%. That means across all states, an average of 20% of all traffic fatalities are a result of drunk driving.
In North Carolina, 29% of traffic accident-related fatalities occur as a result of alcohol-impaired driving.
Even Low Blood Alcohol Concentrations Result in Fatal Accidents
In North Carolina, during 2017, there were 477 traffic-related fatalities in which drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01 or more. Of those deaths, 413 were the result of drivers who had a BAC of 0.08 or more. Among them, 286 people died due to drivers with a BAC of 0.15 or greater.
As you can see from the data above, even trace amounts of alcohol in the body can result in serious car accidents in which people lose their lives.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to seek compensation. Additionally, if your loved one lost their life due to an impaired driver, you deserve justice for the wrongful death. Our team has helped many others in similar situations, and we may be able to help you, too. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our office with any questions you may have.
Call the Charlotte lawyers at Benoit Law Firm, PLLC today at (877) 600-7212 to speak with an attorney about your case.