This August, Remember to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

August is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over month. And, while you should never drive impaired, this annual campaign serves as a good reminder about the importance of practicing responsible drinking habits.

The Costs of Drunk Driving

According to the NHTSA, roughly 37 people die every day in the United States as a result of drunk driving. Worse yet, nearly 300 children were killed as a result of drunk-driving crashes in 2021. 

At The Champion Firm, we’ve seen how destructive drunk driving can be. Many of our clients have sought our help after they experienced injuries caused by an impaired driver. Not only do victims of drunk drivers often experience physical injuries, but their mental health and quality of life tend to suffer as well. Below are just a few of the ways we’ve seen drunk driving affect our clients’ lives: 

• A woman suffered serious injuries when a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit ran a red light and crashed into her car. The Champion Firm conducted a thorough investigation into the facts of this case and won our client $10.2 million within a year after her accident. 
• A mother and daughter suffered ongoing neck and back pain after being injured by a drunk driver going against traffic on a one-way street. Their resulting medical bills totaled more than $6,000. Our team secured a $147,000 settlement for this family.
• A retired military veteran was hit head-on by a drunk driver who, while driving in oncoming traffic, lost control of his car. Our client hired The Champion Firm and our team secured a $130,904 settlement for him in less than a year. 

Drunk driving charges can be misdemeanors or felony offenses, depending on the circumstances. Even a first-time DUI offense can cost you over $10,000 in fines and legal fees. 

Quite simply, it never pays to drink and drive. This message should be taken seriously every month of the year, but especially in August as the NHTSA reminds us.

You don’t want to be the cause of harming another person, and you certainly don’t want to deal with the costs and legal consequences of drinking and driving. As the summer draws to a close, please continue to practice responsible drinking, and never drive impaired.

If you or someone you know does experience injury as a result of a drunk driver’s negligence, contact The Champion Firm immediately for a free consultation of your case, no commitment or contract needed.