Drunk driving is a deadly problem in Kentucky

Alcohol and driving do not mix. A driver who has consumed alcohol and chooses to get behind the wheel of their car is a danger to themselves and to every other person that they encounter. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer readers of this Lexington personal injury blog a look at just what a problem drunk driving is for Kentucky residents.

One sobering statistic that may cause readers to pause is the fact that 2,041 people died in drunk driving crashes in the state between 2003 and 2012. This alarming information means that more than 200 people die, on average, in drunk driving accidents each year in Kentucky. Law enforcement efforts and anti-drunk driving campaigns help, but too many people are still made victims of dangerous crashes caused by drunk drivers.

Drunk driving deaths among men in the state are significantly higher than the national average for male drunk driving deaths. Throughout the nation, 5.2 men die in drunk driving crashes per 100,000 people, but in Kentucky that figure rises to 6.5 male deaths per 100,000 people. The average female deaths in the state are consistent with the national average.

In the wake of a drunk driving accident, a victim may be scared and confused. They may not know where their next paycheck will come from, if they will be able to repair their car, or how they will be able to pay their medical bills. Families who lose loved ones in drunk driving crashes may carry heavy financial and emotional burdens in the aftermaths of their ordeals. Their personal injury attorneys can help them find legal paths toward justice as they work through their devastating losses.