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Drunk Driving Accident: What Age Group is the Worse?

No one wants to be involved in a drunk driving accident. Those who are impaired and still choose to get behind the wheel aren’t only putting their own lives at risk, but those of bystanders as well. Over the last decade or so, the annual numbers of fatalities caused by drunk driving have been declining. While this is a good thing, it is only a start. Media campaigns as well as stricter penalties for driving while impaired are making people take a second to think before starting the car. However, the ages of the most common offenders have stayed the same.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, there were over 10,000 fatalities on US roadways in 2016 caused by impaired drivers. Over one-quarter of car-related deaths that year were caused by alcohol. As law enforcement continues to crack down on drunk drivers, amounting to over a million drunk driving arrests in the US that same year, the percentage of drunk drivers caught in the act is less than 1% of those who had self-reported their drunk driving.

It’s Not Only Alcohol

While alcohol tends to be the most common cause of impaired driving, especially at night and on weekends when people are most likely to drink, there are other causes as well. With increasing acceptance and legalization of marijuana, those who use it are more likely to be involved in an accident as well, although more statistics are necessary to determine if the ages and ailments of marijuana users has had an impact on the increased numbers.

A drunk driving accident may not be caused by being drunk at all in some cases. Many legally prescribed medications or even OTC medications can cause impaired driving that can lead to injury or death. Other common causes of impaired driving include using a cell phone or being sleepy.

The Worst Offenders by Age

As we mentioned above, even though drunk driving accident rates are slowly declining, those in a certain age group tend to be more likely to drive impaired. Those in their early twenties have the highest arrest rates. However, the statistics show that adults up to age 44 are almost just as likely to get behind the wheel after drinking. The percentage of drivers in older age groups that are involved in accidents or are arrested for drunk driving declines sharply. The most alarming statistic, however, is that 15% of impaired driving accidents are caused by drivers just 16 to 20 years old.

Being injured in a drunk driving accident is still devastating no matter the age of the driver. You may lose out on time at work, or lose your job completely because you are no longer able to perform the basic functions necessary. You may also lose out on quality time with your family. Unfortunately, drunk driving accident deaths are more devastating for the family left behind. An experienced and powerful personal injury lawyer can help to fight for your needs whether it be continued medical support or financial compensation. Contact Martin Gasparian at the Maison Law Firm personally by emailing martin@maisonlaw.comto set up a free consultation.

https://ceoworld.biz/2019/04/25/what-age-group-has-the-most-drunk-driving-accidents/

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