Drinking and driving is a dangerous decision that unfortunately, some people still make even though they know that it puts the lives of themselves and others at risk. When you’ve been in a collision that was caused by a drunk driver, it likely seems obvious who was at fault. While fault can be more complicated than it looks, if a drunk driver was involved, they are likely responsible for the accident from their negligence and recklessness.
Our Minnesota drunk driving accident lawyer can help you through the legal process of holding a drunk driver accountable for their choices. You shouldn’t have to handle the costs of your injuries and other damages on your own. We will fight to get you justice and get you the full and fair compensation that you deserve.
Minnesota Drunk Driving Statistics
Drunk driving accidents can cause serious damage to everyone involved in the collision. According to the impaired driving report from Minnesota Department of Public Safety, there were nearly 25,000 drunk driving incidents recorded in the state in 2017, which was an increase from the previous year. Of these incidents, nearly 6,000 happened in Hennepin County alone.
While the legal limit in Minnesota is .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC), any amount of alcohol in a person’s system could impair their driving skills and lead to an accident. In our state, 113 people were killed and over 2,000 were injured by drunk drivers in 2017. All of these deaths and injuries were preventable if the intoxicated driver had not gotten behind the wheel.
The violation records give insight into who is committing these violations. According to the same report, drivers between the ages of 20 and 34 were responsible for over half of the incidents. On top of those numbers, about 40 percent of offenders were re-offenders. This shows that if you offend once, you are likely to again. The numbers show that half the people who have one drunk driving offense will commit another, then half of the second-time offenders will commit a third, and so on.
When you’ve been struck by a drunk driver, you’re likely more worried about getting justice and healing from your injuries. You shouldn’t have to deal with the costs associated with your injuries and damages because the collision wasn’t your fault. With the help of our Minneapolis drunk driving accident lawyer, you can feel supported and confident through your claim and know that you will get justice.
For a legal consultation with a drunk driving lawyer serving Minneapolis, call 612-349-2729
Minnesota Interlock Ignition Program
Due to the potential for repeated offenses, Minnesota implemented an interlock program in 2011 that created sanctions for people who are charged with a DWI. An ignition interlock is a device that measures a driver’s breath for alcohol before the car will start. If a driver has any alcohol in their system, their car won’t start and they won’t be able to operate their vehicle.
Here are some of the details of the interlock program that are intended to keep intoxicated drivers from being able to get on the road:
- First time offenders with a BAC over .16 percent and any repeat offenders are required to have an interlock system installed in their car.
- If the above offenders choose to install the system, they regain their driving privileges immediately after the offense as long as they still have their license.
- If the above offenders choose not to install an interlock system, they could lose their driving privileges for one to three years.
- Any people with three or more DWI offenses in a ten-year span are required to install an interlock system to show that they are sober for three to six years.
In 2015, over 12,000 participants in the ignition interlock program graduated and had the system removed from their vehicles. Unfortunately, over 5,000 participants had the system revoked and over 4,000 were cancelled, but the number of people who graduated show that it can be successful for drivers who stay sober.
Regardless of the DWI offender chose to install an ignition interlock system, when their actions caused your injuries and damages, they should be held accountable for their negligence and recklessness. Our Minneapolis drunk driving accident lawyer can help you hold the liable party responsible for their actions so that you can get the justice you deserve.
Minneapolis Drunk Driving Lawyer Near Me 612-349-2729
Common Drunk Driving Wreck Injuries
Drunk drivers are less capable of paying attention to the road, how they’re driving, and making good decisions behind the wheel. Because of this, when they cause a collision, they usually don’t attempt to brake or avoid a collision like sober drivers might. This can lead to more serious wrecks because of the force of their impact.
More serious impacts also cause more catastrophic injuries than usual as well. Here are some of the different injuries that the victims of drunk driving accidents commonly suffer from:
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Death
These catastrophic injuries not only cause victims to have medical bills directly after suffering from the damages, but they could also have life-long effects for them. A victim could have future treatment costs, specialist visits, future medication and medical equipment, partial or permanent disability, and the loss of the ability to work.
All of these costs can be difficult to handle. You shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your medical costs, make up for lost wages, or pay your regular bills after a crash that wasn’t your fault. We will help you recover the compensation you deserve for your damages, both economic and noneconomic.
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Madia Is Here for You
When you’re focusing on healing from the injuries and repairing any other damages that you incurred from a drunk driving accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about handling the legal process to hold them accountable for their negligence. Madia has experienced attorneys and is prepared to fight for your rights. Hire us as your Minneapolis drunk driving injury lawyer today.
We will investigate what happened and consult experts if necessary so that we can determine exactly who was at fault for collision. That way, we can ensure that you will get the full and fair compensation that you deserve. Call today so that we can get started on your case right away.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form
