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Drunk driving realities in West Virginia

On Behalf of | Oct 18, 2019 | Auto Accident Injuries

Most drivers in West Virginia do a good job of following the traffic laws when they are on the roads and highways. There are, however, enough people who choose to ignore laws and basic safety principles when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. This unfortunately puts a lot of innocent people in harm’s way for no good reason. Driving after drinking is one of the behaviors that many people refuse to give up.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers were responsible for one out of every two traffic deaths in Ohio County, West Virginia between 2013 and 2017. During those five years, 10 out of 20 people in the county lost their lives at the hands of intoxicated drivers. This is a significantly higher number of alcohol deaths compared to the county’s closest neighbors. Together, Marshall, Wetzel and Brooke Counties recorded 13 drunk driving deaths in the same period.

Statewide, alcohol was a stated factor in nearly one out of every four traffic fatalities in 2017, claiming 72 lives. In 2016, 69 people were killed in drunk driving accidents. These deaths accounted for 26% of West Virginia’s total accident fatalities regardless of cause or contributor factor. It is clear from these records that more needs to be done to keep people safe. Don’t drink and drive. Call a cab or an Uber or a friend. You will be glad you did.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help yourself or your loved one after being involved in an accident caused by a negligent and drunk driver, please feel free to visit the impaired crash assistance page of our West Virginia motor vehicle accident and personal injury website.