There is nothing wrong with having a glass or two of your favorite wine and enjoying it. What is wrong is being intoxicated and driving which may lead to DUI accidents. The truth is, drunk driving is a scourge in society. Unfortunately, it leaves so many victims in its wake.
Some states call it drunk driving; others call it driving under the influence or driving while Intoxicated. Regardless of the given name, operating a vehicle while under the influence poses a significant danger to both the driver and other road users.
It often leads to injuries or deaths of those involved. This article covers how much an injured DUI crash victim can get as compensation for severe injuries. If you are a victim of a DUI accident, contact a DUI attorney in Boise to help you.
How Often Do DUI Accidents Occur?
Alcohol and certain drugs can reduce brain functions, affecting thinking, judgment, and muscle function. All these abilities are necessary for operating a vehicle safely. However, as the alcohol level in a person’s body gets higher, the negative impact on the central nervous system increases.
Also, alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach walls and small intestines; it then moves into the blood. An individual alcohol level gets measured by the weight of alcohol in a specific volume of blood. The more alcohol in your blood, the more risk of DUI accidents.
The Department of Transportation states that 28 people die daily in drunk driving accidents. That’s one person in almost every hour. About 10,497 people died in 2016 in alcohol-induced car crashes. That made up 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the US that year.
Almost 1 million drivers got arrested in 2016 for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Accounting for one percent of 111 million reported alcohol-impaired driving.
Furthermore, based on reports from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), two out of every three persons will be in DUI accidents for their lifetime. The annual cost of alcohol-related accidents totals about $44 billion.
Although these figures are scary, they drive home the fact that driving under the influence is a regular occurrence, and knowing what to do if you or your loved one gets into a DUI crash is essential.
Types of Injuries Sustained in DUI Accidents
Typically, Drunk driving impairs judgment, limits comprehension, concentration, vision, hearing, reflex control, and reaction time. The higher the blood concentration of drugs and alcohol, the more these functions get limited.
Drunk drivers are less likely to swerve or take evasive actions to prevent an accident than sober drivers. Because of poor judgment and limited control drunk drivers have over their vehicles, the injuries are usually severe if they get into accidents.
Common injuries sustained in DUI accidents include:
- Spinal injury
- Organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and crushed bones injuries
- Skin injuries
- Psychological injuries
The severity of the injuries depends on the impact. A lot of drivers involved in such accidents drive into oncoming vehicles, obstacles, or even headlights.
How Much Can a DUI Accident Victim Get for Severe Injuries?
The truth is, no figure would ever be enough to pay for loss of life, loss of any body part, pains, emotional trauma, and impact on lifestyle caused by accidents. However, you can get a monetary settlement to help cushion the distress and loss.
Generally speaking, the amount a victim of a DUI accident can get can range from nothing to thousands of dollars. Typically, the more severe your injury and the less responsible you are for the accident, the more money you stand to gain.
Practically speaking, it would be complicated to give a specific figure a DUI accident victim can get for severe injuries. However, the quality and experience of the Boise DUI lawyer working with you will significantly affect the settlement you can get.
Factors that affect the amount an accident victim can get include:
- Severity and permanence of injuries
- Time-lapse between accident and commencement of treatment
- Seriousness and duration of injury
- Existence of any underlying medical issue
- Medical diagnosis
- The severity of vehicle damage.
- Availability of witnesses to the accident and their testimony
- Age of the drunk driver
- Evidence of the drunken or drugged state of the driver
Call a DUI Boise Attorney Today!
Dealing with the trauma of a DUI car accident is enough without the added burden of the legalities of getting compensation for damages. Most insurers would want to do all they can to pay you as little as they can. But if you work with a Boise DUI attorney, we will represent and get you the proper compensation. Contact us today to get started.