| Approximately 30 percent of all Americans are | | | | use while driving. |
| expected to be involved in a drunk driving accident in | | | | Victims of car accidents where the negligent driver is |
| their lifetime. More than 10 percent of Americans aged | | | | charged with "Driving under the Influence" (DUI) could |
| 12 and older drove under the influence of alcohol at | | | | be entitled to punitive damages in addition to |
| least once in 2001 and that nationwide. A rough | | | | compensatory damages. Negligent drunk drivers, on |
| average of 59 people is killed every hour in a drunk | | | | the other hand, may serve time in prison or have their |
| driving auto accident. (Proner, 2007) | | | | licenses revoked and pay huge amount of fines, but |
| Drunk Driving is one of the leading causes of fatal | | | | pain and trauma suffered by the victims due to the |
| automobile accidents in the United States. According to | | | | drunk driver's negligent actions remain, unchanged, |
| the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | without direct remedy available. No amount of penalty |
| (NHTSA), nearly 40% of total traffic fatalities are | | | | or compensation can make up for personal damage, |
| alcohol-related incidents. | | | | but that is the closest a victim can resort to. |
| Life is precious and those who are not killed by the | | | | A drunk driver is held liable for paying compensatory |
| negligence of drunk drivers, though fortunate, may be | | | | damages, actual and general ones, which include |
| left with life-altering injuries that could prevent them | | | | medical expenses and loss of future wages; pain and |
| from their previous way of life. These auto accident | | | | suffering damages for the emotional distress the |
| injuries may be severe enough to prevent a person | | | | accident has brought upon the victim and his or her |
| from returning to work or engaging in recreational | | | | family; and punitive damages to serve as punishment |
| activities he was once used to. Sprains, ruptured disks, | | | | for his or her negligent actions. In some cases, the |
| fractures, paralysis and brain damage are some of the | | | | establishment that provided alcohol to the drunk driver |
| debilitating injuries that haunt victims even for years | | | | may also be held liable. |
| after the accident. | | | | It is important for a victim to seek California legal |
| Drunk driving is a criminal offense, punishable by fines, | | | | service, talk to an experienced attorney, and file an |
| jail time, and revocation of license. Drunk drivers are | | | | auto accident or injury case as soon as possible after |
| charged with driving under the influence or driving while | | | | a drunk driving accident. In many states, the statute of |
| intoxicated, which includes the use of alcohol and drugs | | | | limitations for filing these cases is two years from the |
| that impair the ability to operate a motor vehicle | | | | time of the accident, but varies in others. By the time |
| properly. This includes common illegal drugs, such as | | | | the statute of limitations expires, in most cases, the |
| cocaine and marijuana, as well as over-the-counter | | | | victim will not be able to pursue a case and obtain |
| drugs and prescription medications that warn against | | | | compensation for incurred injuries. |