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Driving a vehicle is a privilege in the United States. It is also a way of life. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), as many as 200,000,000 American men and women drive their vehicles on our nation’s roadways each day. Many never consider the serious responsibility that comes with getting behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that almost 40,000 men, women and children die each year as a result of fatal auto accidents. Drunk driving is a major cause of auto accidents. While licensed drivers under the age of 25 represent only about 6.6% of all licensed U.S. drivers, as a group they are involved in 14.8% of all crashes. Fatal auto accidents involving this group occur at more than twice the rate of the driving population. Drunk Driving Laws In the United States, two statutory offenses apply to drunk driving. Erratic driving behavior, slurred speech and a failed sobriety test assessed by a police officer leads to arrest for DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated/impaired), or OWI (operating while intoxicated or impaired). Operating a motor vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. A BAC of 0.08 or higher is illegal in all 50 states. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports U.S. drunk driving accidents cost more than 51 billion dollars each year. Drunk driving accidents causing injury, disability or death are handled differently than traffic accidents where alcohol use or abuse is not a factor. Therefore, it is crucial to seek qualified legal advice to learn about your rights under the law if your life or the life of a loved one is affected by a drunk driver. Drunk driving auto accidents may require the filing of multiple claims, and can be complex to investigate and prosecute. Both civil and criminal charges for vehicular manslaughter may be filed against the drunk driver. The innocent party may be entitled to recover damages from the drunk driver, as well as through state victim assistance and other compensation programs. This is especially true if the drunk driver is not covered by liability insurance. A knowledgeable drunk driver attorney understands how to recover damages on your behalf. Driving a vehicle is a privilege, not a right. Always drive defensively. Remember that getting behind the wheel of a car carries risk. Insure yourself properly so that, if you are the victim or the cause of a drunk driving auto accident, you have proper insurance coverage. If a drunk driving auto accident has affected you, please visit the website of The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today.
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