Traffic fatalities and drunk driving continue to be problems for Virginia

The Virginia State Police (VSP) are on a mission: They want to curb drunk driving and stop the rising tide of traffic fatalities in the state.

According to one Virginia State Police superintendent who addressed a new spate of fatal wrecks following Labor Day, “The 2020 traffic fatality statistics continue to trend in an unacceptable direction . . . with 116 additional crashes with injuries over the holiday weekend.”

A large part of the problem is drunk driving. In 2019, almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the state were related to drunk driving. A total of 18,648 drivers were convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in that year alone.

According to the newest research, the largest percentage of drunk drivers in Virginia are young men between the ages of 21 and 35. Even though 95% of people acknowledge the fact that it’s better to have a plan when it comes to getting home safely and avoid driving drunk at all, about 57% of men in that age group will admit that that have gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking or let another person who had been drinking drive them somewhere.

Virginia authorities are doing their best to crack down on drunk drivers — but it’s a mistake to think that they’re not out there. If you’re involved in a wreck with a drunk, you could suffer terrible injuries and serious financial losses. While the criminal justice system can handle punishing the driver’s reckless actions, you will need to pursue a civil claim to obtain the compensation you need to move forward. Find out how an experienced personal injury attorney can make it easier.