Drunk Driver Car Accidents In Charlottesville and Albemarle

Personal Injury Lawyer Charlottesville Albemarle

Two weeks ago in the Charlottesville area, a drunk driver caused a head on collision car accident that killed the driver of one car and seriously injured several passengers. This tragic case is not an isolated instance of drunk driving causing a car accident. Each year in this country, over 17,000 people die as a result of drunk driver car accidents. Recently, in Albemarle Circuit Court, a drunk driver pleaded guilty to two counts of maiming as a result of drunk driving. Another recent case in Albemarle Circuit Court involved a college student who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a drunk driving accident that severely injured a construction worker. These are local examples of drunk diver car accidents that contribute to the national picture of over 1 million injuries a year caused by drunk drivers. Such a staggering statistic does not get the attention it deserves. To put the numbers in perspective, the terrorist attacks on New York City killed over 3,000 people whereas each year there nearly 6 times that many people being killed by drunk drivers. We spend billions of dollars on homeland security to prevent another Twin Towers tragedy but only a fraction of that amount is spent on fighting the much greater threat of drunk drivers. It is also a threat that is much more real for every driver on our roads. It is a daily problem across the country and deserves just as much attention as terrorism prevention efforts. Imagine the effect of every car being equipped with an ignition lock that tested for alcohol in your breath before allowing the vehicle to start. Do you think such an investment would result in a dramatic drop in drunk driver car accidents? It is a sentencing option for habitual offenders. Would it be too much of an intrusion on our lives to have such equipment in every new car?

Francis P. Hajek
Wilson & Hajek, LLC, a personal injury law firm
Experienced Injury and Accident Lawyers Serving Virginia, including Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Staunton, Waynesboro