Physical and Emotional Costs of Being Hit by a Drunk Driver
4,000 Minnesotans are injured each year in alcohol-related accidents. Those injured are often left with debilitating injuries for the rest of their lives.

March 07, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Physical and Emotional Costs of Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

Everyone knows that getting hit by a drunk driver results in a smashed up car or worse, death. But most don't stop to think about the countless people who survive these awful accidents and must live with debilitating injuries for the rest of their lives. In Minnesota, the problem of drunk driving-related injuries is especially troublesome.

The Star Tribune reports that 4,000 Minnesotans are injured each year in alcohol-related accidents. Of those, a few hundred will be serious injuries, twice the number of fatalities caused by drunk driving accidents annually. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported 338 serious injuries in 2008.

Medical expenses and other costs

The more serious a drunk driving injury, the higher the medical costs will be. Some victims require lifelong medical care as a direct result of injuries sustained in crashes. Chao Xiong writes, "Altogether, those accidents accounted for $702 million in medical expenses, lost wages and other costs." Many victims who can no longer work must depend on Social Security to pay living expenses.

Emotional toll on victims and families

Survivors of drunk driving accidents who sustain serious injuries and must live with disabilities often feel robbed of the ability to live a normal life. Woody Lee, a man who has been living with accident-related disabilities since 1967, calls drunk driving an "equal opportunity tragedy" because anyone, not just the person drinking and driving, can be affected by the consequences. Over the last 20 years, the brain injury he sustained has caused him to lose a fiancee, a wife and the ability to earn a living.

The good news

While drunk driving accidents are never good news, reports show that they are on the decline. The Century Council reports that in Minnesota, adult deaths caused by drunk driving accidents have gone down 43.2 percent between 1998 and 2008. For people under the age of 21, drunk driving-related deaths in Minnesota have decreased by 68.1 percent.

Injuries have also decreased. "Since 1990, when 6,723 Minnesotans were injured in alcohol-related crashes, the number of people hurt in such accidents has declined steadily, reaching a low of 2,896 in 2008," reports the Star Tribune.

Speak to an attorney

Even with drunk driving accidents on the decline, they still occur and, as a result, people are injured every day. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an accident with a drunk driver, it is important to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to learn about your legal rights. A lawyer can answer any questions you may have, examine your case and help you determine the best course of action to receive the compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries and losses you have incurred.

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