Just prior to the start of the holiday season, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) issued its fifth annual report for its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. The timing is fitting as more people die in drinking and driving accidents in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years than at any other time of year. According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, 415 people died last December because of drunk driving related fatalities nationwide.
The focus of MADD's campaign is threefold:
- First, to support law enforcement in their efforts to prevent drunk driving accidents in Illinois and other states by utilizing sobriety checkpoints.
- Second, to push all states to pass laws that would require convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlock devices before they could start their cars.
- Third, to expend resources working to develop a product that would prevent anyone who was impaired from starting their cars.
There are indications that MADD's efforts are having some benefits. The Chicago Tribune reported that alcohol-related arrests dropped 16 percent between 2007 and 2010. Alcohol-related crashes fell by 33 percent. Despite these improvements, drunk driving still remains a serious threat for people in Illinois.
In the MADD report, Illinois placed 29th among the 50 states in terms of alcohol-related automobile fatalities. The state's midland ranking should not place anyone at ease. In 2010, 32 percent of all traffic deaths were due to an individual driving under the influence. The report also revealed that of the arrests in Illinois for drunk driving in the last year, there were 49,527 third-time offenders land 5,659 fifth-time offenders. Annually, the state spends approximately $1.54 billion on state subsidies for drunken driving fatalities.
While checkpoints during the holiday season may save some lives, others will still be senselessly lost. For families who know the devastation caused when a relative is injured or killed by a drunk driver, there is no way to make up for the damage that has been done. But for many, it is a comfort to know that those who have been affected by a driver's negligence will receive the compensation necessary to provide for their care. A Chicago DUI accident lawyer can often bring needed hope in a frightening time.
Illinois has laws that allow drunk driving victims to recover additional punitive damages when it can be shown that the drunk driver was grossly negligent. Having an experienced attorney who is known to insurance companies and isn't afraid to go to trial when necessary can make a significant difference in the outcome of a personal injury case.
From the moment of an accident, every step counts. If you or a family member have been injured in a DUI accident, it is important you speak to a Chicago auto accident attorney right away to preserve your rights. Until you understand the value of your claim, do not accept any settlement offers. An Illinois drunk driving accident lawyer can provide valuable advice and review your options with you.
