With Labor Day weekend acting as the end of summer for many people and approaching quickly, it is not uncommon for Americans to celebrate the holiday with parties and barbeques, often involving alcohol and, in some cases, recreational drugs.
State and local authorities are aware of an increase of driving under the influence during the holidays, and many, including those from Cook County, Illinois, and the surrounding area, will be patrolling the roads looking for impaired drivers. As honorable as their intentions may be, the sad fact is that impaired driving still claims the lives of thousands of Americans each year.
According to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 10,265 deaths as a result of drunk drivers in 2015, which accounted for 29 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Almost 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2015. More alarming, however, is that as many as 111 million American adults admitted to at some point driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics in that year.
If your loved one has been involved in a fatal drunk driving accident, you and your family may be entitled to compensation. This could include compensation for both pain and suffering as well as medical expenses related to the accident, and even future lost wages. There is no way to replace a lost loved one, but obtaining some financial relief following a tragic car accident could prove to be helpful while your family mourns and tries to move on in life.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Impaired Driving: Get the Facts,” Accessed Aug. 14, 2017
