Lynchburg Drunk Driving Accident

One of the things that all of us should be concerned about is reducing the amount of drunk driving accident cases in Virginia. My firm practices in central Virginia and represents clients in personal injury cases that resulted from a car accident. Too many times these motor vehicle accidents have been caused by a drunk driver. So how does drunk driving accidents & DUI law in Lynchburg, VA impact our community and what remedies are available to improve this issue. If you search the internet or read the local paper, the last thing you want to see is a story about people who were driving under the influence here in Lynchburg, Virginia that have caused serious injury or death to unsuspecting and innocent victims. The headline “Drunk Driver Kills 2 in Lynchburg, VA Crash” is a recent local headline that reflects a statewide problem. In 2017 in Virginia, there were over 7,200 accidents caused by drunk drivers resulting in over 4,400 injuries and 248 deaths.

This is a problem that every community must face, from our largest area’s like Virginia Beach to our smallest communities. Driving under the influence is a criminal charge under Virginia law, and can include jail time of up to 30 days, mandatory fines, and up to a one-year license suspension. Virginia is also a zero-tolerance state, which means motorists under the legal drinking age of 21 cannot have any alcohol in their systems. Despite the increasingly tough penalties for driving under the influence, alcohol continues to be a contributing cause of car accidents statewide. In 2017 alone, there were twelve alcohol-related auto accidents per day that resulted in injury. Just as concerning as the number of daily accidents is the fact that the average blood alcohol content of the drunk drivers was almost .145, which is almost twice the legal limit, which in the state of Virginia is .08. Drivers in Virginia also face additional consequences if they are impaired and cause an accident that results in someone’s death. A drunk driving accident involving a fatality qualifies as involuntary manslaughter and is a class 5 felony. A conviction for this offense carries with its serious penalties, including prison time. What started as a fun night out can quickly turn to tragedy by operating a vehicle with impaired judgement due to consuming too much alcohol.

As a former criminal defense attorney, we understand the DUI laws in Virginia and the impact they can have on anyone charged with that offense. Our lawyers have experienced the process and have first-hand knowledge of what drunk drivers face as their case makes its way through the court system. This includes all the possible defenses that lawyers raise for their clients, and how a conviction can impact their civil liability in a personal injury lawsuit. Individuals who are injured in vehicle accidents caused by impaired drivers are faced with many concerns and questions. Our team of personal injury lawyers understands that and uses our decades of experience to try to help put injury victims and their families back to where they were before the accident occurred. From helping them navigate the legal process to overseeing their recovery and health care issues, Randall J. Trost, P.C. is always here to help. Anytime someone is injured in a car crash because of the poor choices of a drunk driver, the first concern is for the victim and their well-being. That they seek immediate medical attention for their injuries and get started on the road to recovery. Sometimes injuries are not always immediately known and are difficult to evaluate, as victims don’t always initially feel pain. Being evaluated initially after an accident and continuing care are important in making a full recovery.