Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the major causes of auto accidents in Florida. Whether it’s public service announcements, billboards or flyers, all of them make it very clear that drunken driving is dangerous. Though drunk drivers face severe penalties in the Sunshine State, the number of road collisions because of drunk driving is ever increasing. If you have been a victim of drunken driving and sustained injuries, always get in touch with a car crash doctor first, and then with a car accident lawyer to help you heal physically and recover any financial damage. Want to know how common drunken driving accidents are in Florida? Here are six important facts provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
1. 7,825 Auto Accident Injuries in a Year
Did you know that drunken driving resulted in 7,825 car accident injuries in one year on the roads of Florida? The injuries were sustained by drivers, passengers, bicyclists, motorists, and even pedestrians. Out of 7,825 injuries, there were 652 severe ones each month, or 22 injured victims per day.
2. Thousands of People Died Between 2003 and 2012
Drunk driving led to the death of 8,476 people in the Sunshine State between 2003 and 2012, according to CDC. This implies that 850 victims died every year or 71 each month, 17 every week, or more than two every day. Driving under influence still accounts for at least 28 percent of traffic related fatalities in Florida as per the reports by Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD).
3. More Than National Average Mortality Rates
As per the findings of the CDC, the state’s drunken-driving related death rate is 3.7 for every 100,000 citizens. This is higher than the US national average, which is 3.3 deaths for 100,000 people. For Floridians who fall in the age bracket of 21 and 34 years, there is a marked difference between the national mortality rate and that of the Sunshine State’s. It’s 6.7 for every 100,000 people throughout the US, but when it comes to Florida, it’s 8.0 for every 100,000 people.
4. Higher Confession Rates
The CDC conducted a survey in all the US states to figure out how many people confess that they were behind the wheels after consuming too much alcohol. The results are shocking. Floridians admit that they did drive their car after getting drunk. According to the poll, 2.1 percent of the adult population of the Sunshine State acknowledged to drunken driving. This is more than the national average which is 1.9 percent.
5. Men More Vulnerable to Collisions
Male pedestrians, motorists, and bicycle riders are more susceptible to drunken driving related accidents than their female counterparts. Based on a review of auto accidents in which any driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more, it was revealed that 5.7 males for every 100,000 died in drunken driving related incidents compared to 1.7 females for every 100,000. Both the figures were higher than the US averages of 5.2 for males and 1.5 for females for every 100,000 people.
6. 0.08 BAC Levels Mean More Fatal Crashes
According to Florida law, a driver is said to be drunk if his BAC is 0.08 grams for each deciliter or more. Reports show that drunk drivers with borderline BAC levels have 11 times more chances of getting involved in a fatal auto accident.
In Florida, car accident lawyers in collaboration with auto accident doctors play a very significant role in helping you file your personal injury claim. They provide the necessary documents to fight your case. You must not delay the treatment process in any post-accident phase as that might have an irreparable impact on your physical wellbeing and compensation benefits.
