It’s one of the scariest things you can see on the road: a drunk driver. They’re unpredictable, unreliable, and often take chances and do things that no sober driver would ever even consider. And though it’s an all-too-common tale across the United States, drunk driving seems to be at its worst here in the Lonestar State. While many are impacted by it, most don’t know just how common, and deadly, it can be.
The Worst Drunk Driving State in the Union
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in 2013 Texas lead “the nation with 1,337 deaths caused by a drunk driver.” These account for 40% of the overall traffic deaths per year in our state. The same report also cites over 99,000 DUI arrests and over 25,000 alcohol-related crashes – all representing some of the worst numbers in the nation.
If the rates of fatalities and alcohol-related incidents don’t scare you, here’s one that might: taxpayers subsidize drunk driving fatalities to the tune of 6.2 billion dollars. That’s higher than the Gross Domestic Product of more than 40 of the world’s countries!
What to do if You’re Hit by a Drunk Driver
With numbers like those, the likelihood that you might be involved in an accident with an alcohol-impaired driver is unfortunately higher than in most other places in the country. And should that day come, you should be well prepared to hold the drunk driver responsible. After seeking medical attention, the best step you can take is to speak to a skilled accident attorney as soon as possible.
If you have been involved in any car accident and are seeking legal assistance, contact us online today or call (972) 632-1300.
