Louisiana Drunk Driving Accident Facts

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 17,454 drunk driving arrests were made in 2011 in the state of Louisiana. That year 226 people died as a result of drunk drivers which represented 33 percent of all the state's traffic fatalities. Alcohol-related traffic injuries involving a blood alcohol concentration of .01 percent or more numbered 5,637. Louisiana employs many laws related to drunk or drug-impaired driving, including those for sobriety checkpoints, mandatory blood alcohol tests for drivers who are killed, mandatory alcohol assessment and / or treatment for those convicted of DUI, ignition interlock devices, child endangerment penalties for those convicted of DUI with a minor in the vehicle, dram shop laws, and more. All of these laws help to prevent accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by drivers who get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and prescription medicines.

Despite all of the laws in place, drunk driving accidents still occur which cause devastation to the victims involved. An example of this occurred in August in Houma, Louisiana on LA Highway 182 when two cars collided after one driver turned his car into the path of another. A passenger in one of the cars was killed. An investigation by the Louisiana State Police showed that both drivers were drunk. One driver had a blood alcohol concentration that was twice the legal limit. He was charged with vehicular homicide, failure to yield, and driving without a license. The other driver was charged with DWI and driving on a suspended license.

Personal Injury Firm in Lafayette, Louisiana

Drunk driving is a negligent and unacceptable behavior which carries criminal penalties. For those who are needlessly injured by drunk or drug-impaired drivers, personal injury law exists to help them recover the damages and losses they experience. For those who lose a family member because of the negligence of a DWI driver, wrongful death laws have been enacted to help them seek justice and find a sense of closure to their loss.

If you have been harmed by a negligent driver in and around the Lafayette area, you can turn to a legal professional at the law firm of Doran & Cawthorne, PLLC. This firm's legal team has more than 24 years of combined experience in the field of personal injury and wrongful death. They have proven time and time again that they can be trusted to get the results you need and deserve in cases involving car accidents, construction accidents, dangerous drugs, defective products, drowning accidents, premises liability, train accidents, and more. Their outstanding legal services have resulted in an "Excellent" rating by Avvo, recognition by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers. To learn more about this highly-qualified team and how they can assist you with your claim, contact the firm for a case evaluation.