It is tragic anytime someone suffers serious injury or wrongful death in a car accident in Jackson or the surrounding areas of Mississippi. When the accident is caused by completely avoidable behavior, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, the tragedy is even greater. Despite significant efforts to reduce the number of serious car accidents involving intoxicated drivers, more than 10,000 drivers per year die in accidents caused by alcohol-impaired motorists, which amounts to an accident every fifty minutes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Many Mississippi drivers presume that their probability of becoming the victim of an alcohol impaired driver is minimal. Based on statistical evidence, a third of all drivers will be involved in an accident with a drunken driver at some point during their lifetime. Although stricter drunk driving penalties, more aggressive law enforcement efforts, and public service campaigns might have reduced the number of drunk driving crashes, intoxicated motorists still claim the lives of many innocent victims.
Those who cause car accidents in Mississippi while driving under the influence of alcohol tend to be repeat offenders. The average drunk motorist drives under the influence of alcohol eighty times before his or her first drunk driving arrest. Because committing DUI poses such a substantial risk of causing a serious motor vehicle accident, a judge or jury will often award punitive damages in a lawsuit against an alcohol-impaired driver. The type of conduct required for an award of punitive damages is much more egregious than a finding of negligence under Mississippi law. An award of punitive damages requires the conduct of the perpetrator rise to the level that it constitutes gross recklessness or intentional, wanton, or malicious conduct. Drunken driving is exactly the type of recklessness that might justify punitive damages.
There have been a wide range of measures designed to curb the practice of driving under the influence of alcohol. Some of the most effective measures include the following:
- Stiffer sentences for drunk drivers, which includes mandatory minimum sentences
- Imposition of zero tolerance DUI policies for drivers under 21
- Reduction of the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) standard to .08 percent on a national basis
- Increased use of sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols
- Widespread use of ignition interlock devices
These are just a few examples of the methods employed to reduce the risk of serious auto accidents caused by drunk drivers in Jackson and the surrounding vicinity. Ironically, many drivers who are intoxicated believe that they are actually more alert and able to drive because alcohol impairs their perception and judgment. Drunk driving is especially dangerous because it compromises a variety of necessary driving skills. Some of the types of driving skills that are adversely impacted by alcohol include:
- Reaction and braking time
- Judgment and decision-making
- Coordination and control of motor functions
- Vision and hearing
It should never be the case that someone is killed by a drunk driver because these accidents are so easily preventable. At Barrett Law, we believe that drivers who engage in this type of reckless driving behavior show a conscious disregard for human life and public safety. We are committed to aggressively pursuing justice for victims of alcohol-impaired drivers and seeking the maximum possible financial compensation for those injured or killed by intoxicated motorists.
While there have been substantial efforts to reduce the number of fatal Mississippi car accidents, many victims suffer serious injuries or wrongful death at the hands of drunk drivers. The knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at our Mississippi Auto Accident Lawyers offer a free initial consultation so that we can evaluate your claim. Contact Barrett Law, PLLC today at 800.707.9577 to schedule your free consultation.
