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[/profileleft]By now it should be clear to anyone and everyone who drives a vehicle that doing so while intoxicated is a terrible decision. Different groups across the United States have spent billions of dollars in recent years geared towards persuading people to remain sober if driving. Sadly, it seems that not everyone gets this message or that this message is forgotten from time to time. Tragically, this mistake can have fatal consequences, as it has for more than one person in recent days in the area. That means that too many people will continue to need the help of a San Diego wrongful death lawyer as they suddenly grieve the loss of a loved one or loved ones. The California Department of Motor Vehicles publishes regular reports on DUI in California. Below you’ll find some statistics from the most recent report.
About the 2015 DUI Report
The California DMV compiles statistics that cover a wide range of issues related to DUI across the state. The most recent report includes data through the year 2013. Some data involve the entire state and other statistics are broken down by county. Below you’ll find some of the more troubling statistics from the report.
- The number of fatal California alcohol-related crashes increased by 2.4 percent in 2013 when compared to 2012.
- The number of fatal alcohol-related crashes in the state increased by 7.3 percent in 2012 when compared to 2011.
- Drug-related accident fatalities rose by a factor of 9 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year.
- Drug-related crash fatalities increased by more than 15 percent in 2012 when compared to 2011.
- Nearly 40 percent of all car accident deaths in the state in 2013 involved an intoxicant in some way.
Those interested can find a link to the full DMV report here. These statistics seem to indicate that the problem of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or some other intoxicant in California is not getting better. The problem involves more than just alcohol. The report breaks down the number of accident fatalities by substance or substances involved. Some involved only alcohol and others involve different intoxicants. During that year:
- 807 fatal crashes involved only alcohol.
- 502 fatal accidents involved only drugs.
- 390 fatal crashes involved alcohol and drugs.
That means that more than half of the fatal California DUI accidents involved either alcohol in combination with other intoxicants or other intoxicants without alcohol.
How a San Diego Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help
Driving under the influence is something that occurs all too often in San Diego County as well. In 2013, law enforcement made more than 12,000 arrests in the county for suspected DUI. Nearly 400 of those arrests were for suspected felonies. Sadly, it’s likely that people are going to continue to lose their lives because of others who drive while intoxicated. Families who find themselves suddenly dealing with overwhelming grief are generally in no position to take on insurance companies and other professionals as they attempt to somehow recover their losses. If you face this terribly difficult scenario, you need to take action. Instead of facing this situation alone, seek the help of a San Diego wrongful death lawyer who can handle this aspect of the situation for you while you focus on your family. Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today for a free case evaluation.
