Drunk Driving Statistics

Despite the effort by local groups and governments to decrease drunk driving, these accidents still happen every year in North Carolina. Drunk drivers place their own lives at risk. They also put the lives of passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at risk. Have you or a loved one suffered an injury resulting from a drunk driver? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Under North Carolina law, negligent drivers are liable for injuries caused by their negligence. Drunk driving is a form of careless driving. In some cases, it constitutes willful and wanton behavior. In those instances, a court may require the defendant to pay punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. It is wise to retain the assistance of an experienced Charlotte car accident attorney. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC our attorneys have helped many North Carolina clients receive compensation for their injuries. Contact our Charlotte law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.

The most recent statistics regarding drunk driving in North Carolina are from 2017. The North Carolina Department of Transportation publishes a yearly North Carolina Crash Facts report that documents the number and causes of different types of motor vehicle collisions. An alcohol-related crash is one in which the investigating police officer indicates in the corresponding police report that a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian had been drinking.

In 2017, over 275,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred in North Carolina. Sadly, 1,287 people died as a result of motor vehicle accidents in 2017. Drunk driving caused 11,342 motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina in 2017. Nearly 8,000 people suffered injuries as a result of alcohol-related car accidents, and 368 people passed away as a result of drunk driving accidents.

In 2,505 motor vehicle accidents, one of the drivers involved had a blood alcohol concentration level over .15%. In 156 of the fatal car accidents that occurred in 2017, at least one of the drivers had a blood-alcohol level of .15% or higher according to a breath test as indicated in crash reports.

Drunk driving accounted for 26.4% of the total number of car accident fatalities that occurred in 2017. This percentage is high because drunk driving caused only 4.1% of all accidents. These statistics demonstrate that even though drunk driving accidents may have decreased, they still account for a disproportionately high number of car accident fatalities. Further, drunk driving accounted for 6.2% of all injuries that took place as a result of North Carolina car accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2017, alcohol played a role in nearly one out of every three deadly car accidents in North Carolina. North Carolina ranked only behind Texas, California, Florida, and Georgia for fatal drunk driving accidents. The main concentration of drunk driving fatalities occurred in Charlotte.

For the third consecutive year, the number of fatal motor vehicle crashes in Charlotte increased. In 2017, 71 fatal car accidents occurred in Charlotte, an increase from 53 total fatal crashes the year before. The city of Charlotte also saw an increase in the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in 2017. Charlotte is the 17th largest city in the country, yet it ranks 15th in terms of fatal crashes. In addition to drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and failure to yield are other common causes of fatal motor vehicle accidents in Charlotte.

Drunk drivers can cause many types of car accidents, which often can be fatal. Common types of drunk driving accidents include the following:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone collisions
• Rollovers
• Underride accidents
• Multiple-vehicle pile-ups
• Sideswipe accidents

Recovering from an injury caused by a drunk driver is challenging. In addition to recovering from your bodily injuries, you may also be concerned about speaking to insurance companies and paying your mounting medical bills. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC we have helped many clients recover compensation for injuries caused by medical malpractice. To discuss your North Carolina motor vehicle accident case, contact our Charlotte personal injury law firm today. You can schedule your free initial consultation.