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Driving under the influence is a big problem all across the United States, and West Virginia is certainly not immune from the phenomenon. Thousands of people die in DUI accidents in our country each year, and tens of thousands are injured, sometimes seriously so. Many victims of DUI crashes sustain devastating injuries that require a lifetime of care, physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain functionality and a semblance of a normal life. Although West Virginia has a myriad of laws in force to prevent DUIs from happening, the truth is that drunk drivers and drivers impaired by drugs slip through the cracks, and oftentimes innocent people pay the price for it. If you or someone you love has been involved in a DUI accident, call Shenderovich, Shenderovich, & Fishman to discuss your situation with our Morgantown DUI accident attorney right away.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in four fatal car crashes in West Virginia involve drunk drivers with BAC levels of .08 or greater. Alcohol-impaired drivers paired with speeding and West Virginia’s mountainous terrain and winding rural roads that are often made even more hazardous by adverse winter weather have given rise to a higher-than-national-average number of deadly car crashes in recent years. West Virginia’s car crash fatality rate is 14.7 per 100,000 people compared to the average of 11.6 per 100,000.
Perhaps more soberingly, of the 91 alcohol-impaired DUI accidents that ended in fatalities in 2011, 75 percent of the DUI drivers had BAC levels of .15 or more, and all of the drivers cited for DUI in these cases were repeat DUI offenders.
There are two general types of claims that may result from a run-in with a drunk driver in West Virginia. The first of these is a personal injury claim for the damages sustained during a crash and any future costs that your injury may necessitate. The other is a wrongful death claim, which is a claim filed by survivors of victims killed in DUI crashes.
Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs is one of the most reckless acts that a driver can commit. The driver not only endangers his own life by climbing behind the wheel in an inebriated state; he also puts the lives of innocent people on the roadway in jeopardy, including other drivers, the occupants of other cars, and any pedestrians that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you were involved in an accident with a DUI driver, you can seek out compensation for your injuries and hold the person responsible accountable for your losses. Depending on your situation, you may be able to collect compensation for:
If you or a loved one was injured during a DUI accident, or if you lost a family member in a DUI crash, contact Shenderovich, Shenderovich, and Fishman right away to discuss your legal options with our DUI accident attorney. Schedule your no-cost consultation now.