The dangers of drunk driving are obvious. People who drive under these circumstances pose a risk not just to themselves and the car occupants but to other drivers and pedestrians on the road. Statistics reveal that for every 10 auto accidents which occur, 4 out of these are related to drunk driving. Over 25 thousand people die every year from accidents that involve alcohol. As much as 700,000 are injured in similar incidences. There are reported to be about 500 deaths every week as a result of drivers who are found to be drunk. Put in even starker figures, drunk driving results in at least 70 deaths every day. It is estimated that half of the population of America will at some point be involved in an alcohol-auto related accident. Beyond the costs associated with fines, court fees, and hiring a Denver DUI lawyer, the repercussions of driving under the influence are simply too wide to ignore and yet, amazingly many people still do.

Death and possible injuries are however not the only risk or effect that driving under the influence can cause. There are many other consequences of drinking and driving. These range from physical factors to those of financial. In regards to the latter, it is estimated that America loses between $20 to $24 billion every year from such accidents alone. In a report published by National Geographic, costs associated with treating alcohol abuse are estimated to be over $136 billion annually.

Cases that involve a drunk driver injuring an innocent motorist frequently result in civil suits that require the driver to pay injured parties compensation. These compensations normally involve financial settlements aimed at covering the injured party's medical expenses, lost wages, as well as accounting for the overall emotion trauma such people would have no doubt experienced. This is all on top of the criminal penalties that drunk drivers are also subjected to. It is very important that you seek the counsel of a Denver accident attorney in the event that you are arrested for DUI. If you are injured by a drunk driver, you will likely need the assistance of a car accident lawyer to stand a better chance of getting the compensation that you rightly deserve. In the event however, that a person dies as a result of the drunk actions of a car driver, a wrongful death attorney should immediately be sought. The actions of this attorney will not only see that the family is provided some form of compensation, it also will ensure that such drivers are held accountable and kept of the road for the foreseeable future.

People that are arrested and convicted for drunk driving face other issues as well. If a driver is found to have been responsible for an accident when drunk and driving, the legal consequences can be very severe. Such drivers will normally have to face several settlement claims from the parties that suffered injuries as a result of his action. They will also likely have their license suspended, face fines, be required to attend alcohol classes, and may have other criminal charges filed against them. All these and more will require the assistance of a Colorado DUI lawyer or a criminal defense lawyer. By hiring their services, a driver will be able to ensure that he is provided with the best defense for his charges.

Even if a lawyer is able to get the charges reduced, drivers will still be forced to contend with the results and aftermath of their actions long after the court reaches a decision. The issue of drinking and driving is simple: if you must drink, don't drive.

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   Pingback by you and the law » Lawyers For Personal Injury » Drunk Driving: The Consequences … — February 28, 2010 @ 5:19 pm

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