Drunk Driving Accident Information
Drunk driving is one of the biggest problems we face as a society today. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in all 50 states. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for anyone operating a motor vehicle to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above. Several reports and studies show that people are significantly more likely to die in an accident when alcohol is involved. Pennsylvania has lower BAC limits for commercial drivers (.04 percent) and has a "zero tolerance" or .02 percent BAC for drivers under the age of 21. Pennsylvania law also includes controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.
DUI Accidents Have Devastating Consequences
According to the federal Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), in 2008 alone alcohol-related crashes accounted for 37 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the United States.
When you seriously injure or kill someone while driving under the influence, you face severe criminal penalties. A drunk driver can also be held financially responsible for injuries, damages and losses caused to victims. DUI victims go through significant physical pain, emotional trauma and financial strain during the process of putting their lives together after a DUI accident.
Victims Face Significant Expenses
Typical expenses faced by DUI victims include medical costs, loss of earnings and property damage. Many victims also sustain permanent disabilities, which affects their ability to return to work or ever work or earn a livelihood. Many victims also end up needing 24/7 nursing or care because of the catastrophic injuries they have sustained in the DUI crash.
Pennsylvania Liquor Liability Laws
Please remember that sometimes parties other than the drunk driver can also be held responsible for your serious auto accident. Pennsylvania's Dram Shop laws may apply to some DUI collision cases where the establishment or private host had served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or an underage/minor guest who is found responsible for the accident. The law states that establishments or hosts should look for visible signs of intoxication. What this means is that if a person in obviously drunk, the host or server should stop serving alcohol to that individual right away. In cases where servers fail to do that, the establishment or business that served alcohol to the drunk driver could be held liable.
These laws help seriously injured DUI accident victims who otherwise are limited in the amount of compensation they can recover. It is important that victims and their families consult an experienced and knowledgeable PA liquor liability lawyer, who has a thorough understanding of Pennsylvania's dram shop laws. If you or someone you love has been injured in an alcohol-related crash, please call the Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP today for a free and comprehensive consultation.
