Drunk Driving Injuries

Alcohol-related crashes cost the U.S. economy over $44 billion every year. [1] What’s more shocking is; 29 people die every day in the U.S. in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers according to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) statistics. [2]
This translates to approximately one death after every 50 minutes. Many more people are injured with the most common drunken driving injuries affecting the spinal cord, neck, chest, brain, legs, and knees.

Spinal injuries

This type of injuries affects the spinal cord as the name suggests. The effects of spinal injury are dictated by the location of the injury on the spine as well as the severity. Spinal injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis. This makes spinal injuries the worst drunk driving injuries because the effects can compromise the quality of life you live going forward. You can be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life and/or have to live with extreme back pain among other problems. Spinal injuries are also costly to treat.

Neck injuries

You could also suffer from neck injuries in a drunken driving incident. Besides getting whiplash, you could also suffer more severe neck injuries, i.e., crush or damage your trachea or larynx making it difficult to breathe, eat and move.

Chest injuries

High-speed crashes are known to cause chest injuries to the sternum and ribs. The injuries are common when the point of impact is the chest or surrounding areas. Chest injuries are life-threatening if they result in broken bones which puncture vital organs.

Legs and knees

The legs and knees are usually vulnerable in side-impact collisions as well as accidents involving pedestrians. Broken legs, shattered knees, and torn ligaments can cause long-term complications. In worst-case scenarios, leg and knee injuries can result in permanent walking problems or even amputation.

Brain injuries

A drunken driving incident can also leave you with brain injuries, i.e., traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow, jolt, bump among other head injuries. Brain injuries affect millions in the U.S. alone every year. Over 50% of traumatic brain injuries are from car accidents. These injuries are usually bad enough to warrant medical attention. A significant percentage of these injuries are car accident related. Brain injuries can cause permanent brain damage or death. [3] The injuries can affect a person’s sensation, thinking, language as well as emotions. In most cases, patients require rehabilitation which can be very expensive.

All the above drunk driving injuries have a serious implication on a victim’s overall health and finances. Drunken driving injuries can leave you confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life. You could also be faced with huge recurring medical bills for life because of an accident that was not your fault.

This is precisely why you need the services of a personal injury lawyer. Your finances and health are usually at stake after a car accident. In case you/a loved one suffers personal injuries caused by a drunk driver, a personal injury attorney can help you file a case and get a fair settlement.

Stambaugh Law is an established law firm with 29+ years of experience handling personal injury cases.