Collisions caused by drunk drivers are the most common kind of crash in Coppell

Everyone knows that car crashes are common, and sometimes result in fatalities, but what is truly shocking is the statistics that show how common drunk and drugged driving accidents are. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2016 there were 104 fatalities and a total of 2,410 crashes caused by drunk drivers in Dallas County alone. Statewide, there were 986 fatalities from crashes involving drunk drivers. These are staggering numbers to contemplate, and the economic cost to the crash victims, and to the government agencies responsible for responding to these collisions, runs in the billions of dollars per year.

What is the cost of car crashes to the government agencies in Coppell?

According to the State of Texas Department of Transportation, the cost of motor vehicle accidents statewide was $38,600,000,000 in 2016. This is a staggering amount when you consider that in comparison, the annual cost to end world hunger is estimated to be $30,000,000,000. In this context, it is easy to see why Coppell and Texas government agencies work hard to improve safety and to reduce dangers on Coppell roadways.

Teen drivers and their passengers are at greater risk of being injured or killed in drunk driving crashes in Coppell

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, 2,333 teens in the United States ages 16–19 were killed and 221,313 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes in 2014.That means that six teens ages 16–19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries across the nation. In Texas in 2016, 56 people died in crashes where the drunk driver was under the age of 21.

Why are teens particularly susceptible to injury and death from drunk driving crashes? 

Teens have less driving experience, and also have less experience with drinking alcohol, and the combination of these two factors is deadly. Also, the brains of teenagers are not yet fully developed, and their decision making and problem solving skills are immature. According to the American Academy of Adolescent and Child Psychology, 

Based on the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to:

• act on impulse
• misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions
• get into accidents of all kinds
• get involved in fights
• engage in dangerous or risky behavior

Adolescents are less likely to:

• think before they act
• pause to consider the consequences of their actions
• change their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors

What is being done to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by drunk drivers in Coppell and across Texas?

Texas became the 25th state to pass an all-offender ignition interlock law in 2015, which has resulted in drunk driving deaths being decreased by 8.5%. According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Texas can strengthen its current drunk driving laws by doing sobriety checkpoints and requiring ignition interlocks for any driver who refuses to do a chemical alcohol test.

After a serious or fatal crash with a drunk driver, get information from Coppell first responders

When someone has been injured or killed in a drunk driving collision, the first responders from the Coppell Police Department and the Coppell Fire and Rescue Department will publish a report detailing the incident.Contact them to request a copy of the collision report.

If you have been injured in a car collision with a drunk driver, you will need an experienced Coppell accident attorney to help

No matter how much we eradicate dangerous driving behaviors like drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other actions that put Coppell drivers at risk, car accidents will continue to happen. When a less serious crash happens, often someone can manage the insurance claim without help. When a serious injury car accident happens, or when a fatality occurs, it is crucial to get help from an experienced Mullen and Mullen Legal Office lawyer.