Summer is a prime season for celebrations across Connecticut. Starting with Memorial Day, leading up to the Fourth of July and ending with Labor Day, not to mention graduation parties and weddings, it may seem like there is always a reason to throw a party during the summer months. Many people at parties will drink alcohol as part of the celebration. Unfortunately, this also means many people will make the irresponsible and dangerous decision to drive drunk.
In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that July sees more fatal drunk driving accidents than any other month of the year. The Fourth of July weekend is especially deadly due to drunk drivers. In 2017, approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities during the Fourth of July week involved alcohol. That year, almost 11,000 individuals lost their lives in drunk driving accidents.
While the Fourth of July may be behind us, it is important not to let your guard down. There is still plenty of summer left in which crashes can occur. Those who are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver may be lucky to walk away with mere injuries. Oftentimes, drunk driving accidents are fatal.
When a person is injured or killed in a drunk driving accident, it is important to hold the drunk driver accountable. While the drunk driver may face criminal sanctions due to their actions, it is also possible for the victim or their family to pursue financial compensation through a legal claim. In general, drunk driving is considered a breach of a motorist’s duty of care to drive safely. Thus, if a drunk driver causes an accident that results in damages, they may be liable for the crash.
Those wishing to pursue litigation following a drunk driving crash will want to seek out legal guidance to understand how to proceed with such an action.
