When people are involved in road accidents, they sometimes make a personal injury claim. After all, the distress and physical suffering these events cause can be immense. A number of these cases involve drink drivers.
Getting behind the wheel while over the official blood alcohol level is a legal offence and it can cause drivers to be erratic and dangerous.
The number of compensation claims made as a result of accidents caused by drink drivers may have gone up. According to government figures cited by road safety charity Brake, deaths caused by drink driving increased by 12 per cent from 2010 to 2011.
This was the first hike in drink drive fatalities in a decade. Over the course of the 2011, a total of 280 people lost their lives due to the actions of inebriated motorists. This was 30 more than during the previous 12-month period.
Also, serious and slight injuries caused by drink drivers rose by three per cent last year.
Commenting on the figures, deputy chief executive at Brake Julie Townsend said: “Drink drive deaths and serious injuries cause terrible suffering and anguish, and they are entirely preventable, so it’s appalling they increased last year.”
She added that Brake wants to see a “zero tolerance approach to this deadly menace” from both the public and the government.
People who are affected by accidents like this can make accident compensation claims and if they are successful, some of the financial pressures they face may be alleviated. Also, they often feel a greater sense of justice.
