Posted by : attorney stevelee

Seven Surprising Drunk Driving Facts

Drunk driving is a serious problem in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a Texan is injured or killed in an alcohol-related collision about every 20 minutes.

Drunk Driving in Texas

  1. During 2016, 638 Texans were killed because they were driving under the influence of alcohol. In addition to those tragic deaths, drunk drivers also took the lives of 143 passengers in their own vehicles, and 149 people in other vehicles. They also killed 56 pedestrians and bicyclists during 2016.
  2. The minimum penalty for driving while intoxicated in Texas is confinement in jail for 72 hours and fines of up to $500. If there is also an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, the minimum jail sentence is six days.
  3. Texas had one of the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired deaths during 2015, behind only Rhode Island and Connecticut. Thirty-eight percent of 2015 Texas traffic fatalities were caused by drunk driving.
  4. Some states allow police officers to briefly stop vehicles at highly visible locations to determine whether or not the driver is impaired. These are known as sobriety checkpoints, and they are used to deter drunk driving. The state of Texas does not allow sobriety checkpoints.
  5. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13,138 Texans lost their lives between 2003 and 2012 due to the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver. Tragically, most of these deaths were young people between the ages of 21 and 34.
  6. Adults in Texas who are caught driving while intoxicated with a minor in the vehicle are guilty of a felony, carrying guaranteed jail time, a possible prison sentence of up to two years, revocation of their driver’s license, and a fine of up to $10,000.
  7. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a conviction for driving under the influence can cost $17,000.

Drunk Driving Victims

If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident due to the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver, an experienced attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve. To learn more, contact the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., by clicking the Live Chat button on this page.

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