The Treasure Coast of Florida encompasses several of the most popular beaches in the state. Palm Beach, Vero Beach, Juno Beach and Jensen Beach all boast miles of beautiful coastlines, a multitude of seafood restaurants and a bustling nightlife. With many of the clubs and bars staying open until 2 a.m., and others not closing until 4 a.m., the Florida State Police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urge caution when traveling the highways after midnight, when a large proportion of drunken driving accidents occur.
In a report released in August, the NHTSA reported that alcohol-impaired driving continues to be one of the major problems on our nation’s highways. The agency found that close to one third of all fatal crashes in the United States involve alcohol-impaired drivers.
NHTSA officials analyzed the alcohol-related crashes and determined during which hours of the day the crashes occur most often. Not surprisingly, they found that nearly 66% of the drunk driving accidents in 2009 occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. The timing coincides with typical bar closing times. Sadly, 55% of these accidents involved drivers that had a blood alcohol concentration greater than the legal limit of .08%.
As expected, the second and third highest rates of alcohol-related crashes occurred in the three hours before midnight and the three hours after 3 a.m., respectively.
Nationwide, young men between the ages of 21 and 24 make up the highest concentration of drunk drivers. The report also revealed that motorcyclists were the most likely to be impaired (29%) and drivers of large trucks proved to be the least at 2%.
In Florida during 2009, there were 1,004 people killed in alcohol-related vehicle accidents on the state’s roadways.
Drunk driving is a serious criminal offense, and Florida police continue to focus their efforts on cracking down on drunk drivers. Do your part and don’t drink and drive. If you have been a victim of a Florida car accident caused by a drunk driver, talk to a knowledgeable Florida car accident lawyer to understand your legal rights.
Turn To An Experienced Florida Accident Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in a Florida traffic accident caused by a drunk driver, contact an aggressive car accident attorney who has helped many injury victims recover from a serious automobile accident. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. I have more than three decades of legal experience representing people injured in car accidents and other personal injury claims.
At the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, we pride ourselves on providing one-on-one attention to people across South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Our law firm represents victims of drunk driver accidents across South Florida, including Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Palm Beach and Vero Beach and throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast.
Call 1-800-299-8878 now to speak with a knowledgeable Florida car accident attorney or fill out our online contact form.
