Drunk driving is a popular topic in the media in Phoenix. In fact, Arizona has some of the strictest laws against drunk driving in the nation which lead to many arrests, charges, and sentences related to driving under the influence of alcohol. But with all the attention and with all the legislation related to this activity, it still surprises many that thousands take to the roads in our state each and every year after they have been drinking, contrary to an in violation of the law and against all indications related to public safety.
There are many costs to drunk driving. There is the cost of a traffic ticket should a driver be caught in the act. There is also the cost of a lawyer if that drunk driver needs one for criminal charges. There may be court costs, fines, and fees associated with an act of driving under the influence. A convicted motorist may have to pay to have an ignition interlock device installed in her car. He may have to pay a higher automobile insurance premium once points are assessed against his license. And he may have to pay the price of public embarrassment and shame if it becomes known to family and friend that he drove while drunk.
But the biggest price that is paid for drunk driving is one that cannot be reduced to a monetary value: the price of life. Tragically, a person loses her life every hour of every day in this country due to the actions of drunk drivers. In 2013 alone, more than 10,000 people lost their lives needlessly because a motorist opted to drive after drinking.
The harm extends beyond these victims who lose their lives in alcohol-related crashes to encompass their loved ones, family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors, leaving entire communities suffering from the loss of life. Victims often leave behind families who depended on them emotionally and financially and who will never be able to regain what was lost.
Drunk driving accidents that result in injuries or death in Phoenix also may trigger civil claims on behalf of the victims who were hurt. In a typical instance, this means that a victim or a victim’s surviving family members may be able to recover financial payment for harm including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of a normal life when a crash happens. An at-fault driver, that driver’s insurance company, a corporation, a municipality, or even a victim’s own insurance company may be liable for payment in these instances, depending on the facts of any particular claim.
Taken in total, it is clear that the personal and financial toll of drunk driving accidents extends far beyond a crash itself and may lead to permanent harm. Therefore, all drivers in the Phoenix area should refrain from driving after they have been drinking to guarantee that they are not responsible for the deaths or serious injuries of others, and also so that they will not be liable for the financial harm that may come from those crashes.
If your life has been altered by a drunk driving car accident in Arizona, call the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today. We have a lawyer available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that you can get the answers you deserve regardless of the time of day or night. Call us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 where we will offer you a free case consultation without obligation.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. has represented countless victims of drunk driving crashes over the years and we are standing by now to help you as well. Do not wait as these claims must be brought within a time period specified by law or they will be forever barred.
Prior Blog Entry:
Inflatables Can Be Dangerous for Kids in Phoenix, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 21, 2015.