Since 2004 more than 10 million car accidents occur annually in the United States according to the United States Census, with many of these collisions involving motorists that drive under the influence of alcohol. Although the number of accidents and fatalities involving alcohol-impaired drivers continues to decrease, the Center for Disease Control notes that DUI accidents in the United States still account for 30% of all traffic-related deaths.
Driving under the influence in Utah means operating or being in physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, with a blood/breath alcohol concentration of .08, or under the influence of drugs or any combination of drugs and alcohol.
In a recent report released by the Utah Department of Safety 1,662 car crashes in 2011 were caused by alcohol-impaired drivers which resulted in more than 1,000 serious personal injuries and 39 fatalities. The number of fatalities from DUI incidents was nearly double the amount of those from 2010.
Some other distressing DUI statistics from 2011 include:
- 16% of alcohol related incidents occurred between midnight and 5am with a majority of crashes occurring on weekends.
- Drivers aged 21 to 24 were more likely to be involved in DUI crashes.
- 15% of fatal DUI crashes were caused by drivers with previous DUI records.
- Salt Lake County was one of the top three counties with the highest incidence of alcohol-related crashes.
In Utah driving under the influence is a serious offense that depending on your age and other factors, like if you decide to submit for a chemical test, could result in license suspension, license revocation, fines, jail time, and more.
If you or a loved one had been involved in a DUI-related accident in Utah that was caused due to the negligence of another motorist, the victim may be eligible to receive compensation for property damage, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and more.
Fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form to your right to have one of our knowledge DUI accident lawyers review your case for FREE.
Common Accidents and Injuries
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration passenger cars have the highest incidence of fatalities caused by an impaired driver. Light trucks, which include pick-ups, vans, and some makes of SUVs – had the second highest incidence of fatalities caused by impaired drivers. Unfortunately large truck incidents also increased between the 2009 and 2010 time period.
Some common accidents that may be caused by inebriated drivers include:
- Side-Impact Collisions
- Rollover Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Head-On Collisions
- Hit & Run Accidents
- and more
Injuries are likely among both drivers and any passengers involved in a DUI accident. Some common injuries a person may sustain include:
- Broken Bones
- Head Injuries
- Back and Neck Injuries
- Passenger Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Motorcyclists and pedestrians are also not immune to being involved in a collision with a drunk driver and could be especially injured by a drunk driver.
Utah Dram Shop Liability Laws
In Utah it is illegal to sell or supply alcohol to an intoxicated person and an intoxicated person is also prohibited from buying alcohol. The result of breaking this law could mean 6 months of imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine.
If an intoxicated person causes damage to persons or property, the person who provided the alcohol to the intoxicated individual may be held responsible for injuries and damages caused.
It is also illegal in Utah to drink any alcoholic beverage as the passenger of a vehicle whether it is moving or stationary.
Contact a Utah DUI Accident Lawyer
DUI accidents can cause serious injury to all victims involved, if you or a loved one was involved in a DUI accident and the victim is seeking legal counsel, a personal injury lawyer from the Phillips Law Group may be able to help.
Our lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims receive the justice they deserve and we have the legal experience necessary to guide you through the entire litigation process. Our main office is located in Salt Lake City, Utah but we are also committed to helping clients in the following surrounding areas:
- Rio Grande
- Capitol Hill
- East Central
- Glendale
- …and several other nearby neighborhoods.
Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 602-222-2222 and a member of our intake staff will get you connected with one of our auto accident lawyers.
We can also be reached online by filing out the FREE CASE REVIEW form at the top right hand corner of this page its 100% free to do so.
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