Numbers gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, show that the number of drunk driving fatalities in 2021 increased by 14% over 2020’s figures.
According to NHTSA, almost 13,385 people died due to drunk driving in 2021. Granted, people traveled less in 2020.
Still, these numbers are sad, and frustrating, since they come after decades of increased law enforcement and a flood of public service campaigns aimed to eliminate drunk driving.
Also, because society has come to understand the danger of drunk driving better, there are now many more affordable options for transportation if a person is legally not able to drive home. There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk.
A driver does not have to be legally drunk to cause an alcohol-related crash
But the danger of alcohol does not end with drunk driving.
As NHTSA reports, alcohol can start affecting a person’s driving abilities long before a person becomes legally drunk.
Additional information about traffic deaths proves this point.
In addition to the 13,384 fatalities due to legally drunk driving, 2,266 people died in crashes in which alcohol had a role. In these accidents, the driver responsible had alcohol in their system but were not legally drunk.
These numbers only go to show that many have not learned that alcohol and driving do not mix well. As a result, drunk driving continues to be a major road hazard.
Pennsylvania victims of drunk drivers have a right to receive compensation
If a resident of Scranton or the surrounding communities suffers an injury, or loses a loved one, because of a drunk driver, they should know that they have legal options available to them.
Often, it will make sense for the victim or their family to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for the drunk driver for all of the victim’s damages.