Is the Actually Number of Drunk Driving Fatalities Underreported?

Many people die in drunk driving accidents in Chicago and around the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 30 people are killed every day in accidents caused by drunk drivers. While this number alone is alarming, a recent study points that the actual number drunk driving fatalities in the United States is significantly under-reported. In this post, our Chicago car accident lawyers will discuss how this study was conducted, and what the results of the study were.

How the study was conducted

The researchers gathered and analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The purpose of this system is to provide information about the BAC levels of people who die in car accidents. The data was compared to information on death certificates from people from across the 50 states.

The data gathered from the database showed that 21 percent of those who died in drunk driving accidents had a blood alcohol limit (BAC) at or above .08, which is the legal limit. However, when death certificates from 1999-2009 were analyzed, it was seen that only three percent of them stated drunk driving as the contributing factor in fatal car accidents.

Reasons DUI deaths are underreported

There are various reasons for this discrepancy in data taken from NHTSA’s reporting system and the data gathered from death certificates. One reason could be that it usually takes a significant amount of time for BAC test results to come back after the car accident. Due to the fact that death certificates are normally filed 3-5 days after the person’s death, information about DUI may not be included in the certificates.

Another reason could be that in the United States some states are more likely to report DUI as a factor in a person’s death compared to others, although there is no clear reason why this happens. Last, in nearly half of the American states, when a person gets killed in a DUI accident, it is compulsory to test for the presence of alcohol in the person’s body. However, this actually happens in only 70 percent of the cases. Our car wreck lawyers believes that it is important to acquire accurate information about drunk driving deaths, because it can help authorities gauge the effectiveness of DUI awareness and prevention programs in preventing alcohol related fatalities.

Illinois laws against drunk driving

In Illinois, there is a strict penalty system against drunk drivers. When a driver is convicted of DUI for the first time, he/she will generally lose driving privileges for a year, and may have to serve jail time for a year. They may also have to pay fines up to $2,500.

If you have been injured in a DUI accident, you may require significant medical care. It is important to get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney in Chicago, Illinois to make sure your right to compensation is protected. Call Willens Law Offices today at (312) 957-4166 to schedule a free consultation. We want to help!