In New York, more than 30 percent of all fatal auto accidents are related to alcohol. A person is injured every 2 minutes due to alcohol impairment behind the wheel. New York saw 365 deaths caused by drunk driving accidents in 2010 alone, and 52 of those victims were under age 21. Such statistics are frightening, and they underline the fact that drunk driving endangers all residents of this state. That’s why New York takes drunk driving very seriously.
Even though New York has tough laws to combat drunk driving, far too many drivers still get behind the wheel after they’ve had too much to drink. Some of these drunk drivers cause serious accidents that seriously injure and even kill innocent motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Get the Compensation You Deserve
Victims who endure severe injuries due to a drunk driver’s negligence deserve to be compensated for their pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident and alcohol was a factor, you need an experienced Syracuse personal injury attorney.
The law firm of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, represents clients in Syracuse and surrounding areas. Let our Syracuse drunk driving accident lawyers put their knowledge to work for you. Call our office or get in touch with us via our online contact form for a free case review. We make house calls.
About Syracuse Drunk Driving Accidents
Although New York’s laws are designed to crack down on drunk driving, there are still more than 50,000 drivers in this state with a valid or suspended driver’s license who have three or more alcohol-related convictions. A recent study by the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research in New York found that drivers who have already been convicted of this crime continue to drink and drive at a very high frequency.
In fact, approximately 85,000 driving trips that involve impairment occur in New York every day. And only 1 out of every 500 of these trips ends in an arrest. This means that even though drunk driving is not taken lightly in New York, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to make the state’s roadways safe from needless alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.
Responsibility for a Drunk Driving Accident
An auto accident that occurs due to the irresponsible behavior of an intoxicated driver is not acceptable. Drivers have a duty to their passengers and other motorists to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. When drunk drivers ignore this obligation, resulting in injuries, property damage or death, they can be held liable for their actions.
New York’s Dram Shop Liability Law
New York also has what’s called a “dram shop liability” law. In some cases, victims of drunk driving collisions or their families may include third parties as defendants in their drunk driving accident lawsuits. A third party can be an establishment that sold alcohol to the driver, including a bar, tavern, restaurant or liquor store. Dram shop liability usually arises when an establishment sold or served alcohol to someone who was already visibly intoxicated. In certain circumstances, New York’s social host liability law can allow a drunk driving accident victim to recover damages from a third-party social host who served alcohol to an underage drinker who later caused a car accident.
Get Help From Our Syracuse Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
At the law offices of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, our highly qualified car accident attorneys have helped many injured people get the compensation they deserve from all available sources. Whether we resolve your case by negotiating successfully with an insurance company or proceed to trial, we can help ensure that your case is treated with respect and that you receive the maximum amount of damages allowable by law.
If you or a loved one has suffered because of a drunk driver, call our Syracuse drunk driving accident attorneys or get in touch with us via our online contact form for a free case review.
Resources:
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving – New York
- Students Against Drunk Driving
- Safe-NY – NY Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Facts about New York’s drunk driving laws
Last updated: Dec. 17, 2014