Everyone learns the dangers of drunk and drugged driving in the first few weeks of their driver’s education course, but some motorists still insist on getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. In fact, each year across the United States, there are nearly 10,000 deaths attributed to drunk and drugged driving. This figure accounts for about one-third of all traffic-related accidents.
Since drunk driving is such a serious problem, state legislators across the country have enacted tough criminal and civil penalties that can be levied against those who cause an accident while intoxicated. In fact, under the doctrine of negligence per se, anyone injured in a drunk driving accident can essentially take a legal shortcut in proving their claim. This is because the doctrine of negligence per se allows for accident victims to bypass the requirement that they prove the defendant’s conduct was negligent. In other words, since drunk driving is specifically forbidden under the law in an effort to reduce traffic accidents, such conduct is presumed to be negligent by the courts.
Distracted and Intoxicated Driver Kills One Cyclist, Injures Two Others
Earlier this month, one woman was killed and another two injured when an intoxicated driver struck all three with her SUV. According to one local news report covering the tragedy, the driver of the SUV crossed over the center median and struck one of the bicyclists head-on, killing her instantly. After that first collision, the SUV’s mirror struck another woman, and the vehicle then struck a third woman. These women were both admitted to the hospital, but they have since been treated for their injuries and released.
The bicyclists were in the middle of an organized ride, put together by one of the injured bicyclists. All three bicyclists were riding in a single lane on the side of the road when they were struck by the SUV.
The driver of the SUV told police that she had been looking down at her cell phone in the moments before the accident, and she had also recently taken some kind of drug. There was also a young child in the back of the car. Police charged the driver with homicide by vehicle, causing serious injury by vehicle, driving under the influence of drugs, failure to maintain a single lane of travel, and improper use of a cell phone while driving.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in any kind of Maryland drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. While the law does make it easier for drunk driving victims to recover compensation in some situations, no case is a certainty. Be sure to discuss your case with an experienced attorney prior to proceeding. The skilled personal injury lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of combined experience representing clients in all kinds of negligence cases, including those arising out of drunk driving accidents. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up your free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Driver and Passenger Involved in Fatal Motorcycle Crash Apprehended After Attempting to Flee the Scene on Foot, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 8, 2016.
Roughly Half of All Motorcycle Accidents Occur at Intersections, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 18, 2016.