Drunk Driving – Life Can Change In A Moment

Imagine one moment feeling comfortable and secure while relaxing in your home, and the next moment unexpected disaster strikes – a vehicle comes flying through the front of your house …

That’s what happened in February of this year when an intoxicated off-duty Philadelphia police officer crashed his car through the front of a house, seriously injuring the couple that lived there and killing one of their dogs. Officer Gregory Campbell was driving through a residential neighborhood at 8:20 a.m. when he lost control of his car and it crashed through the home striking both occupants and pinning the woman under his car. The woman was rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Her husband was also treated at the hospital for lesser injuries.

A story like this is horrific any time it occurs but to have a law enforcement officer involved really calls attention to the ongoing problem of drinking and driving. At Soloff & Zerranos, PC, our Philadelphia drunk driving accident attorneys have seen all too often what can happen when alcohol and driving mix.

Drunk Driving Statistics in Pennsylvania

Although both alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related fatalities decreased slightly in 2019 over 2018, drinking and driving is still a major safety issue. Here are some recent statistics about drunk driving accidents in Pennsylvania.

• The majority of drunk drivers are males between the ages of 21-30
• The most alcohol-related crashes took place around Thanksgiving
• Almost 70% of alcohol-related crashes occur at night
• Most alcohol-related crashes occur between 8:00 – 11:59 PM
• Most alcohol-related crashes occur on Saturday

How to Stay Clear of Drunk Drivers

The scary thing about drunk driving accidents is that it is often almost impossible to know who to look out for on the roads. Often there isn’t time to observe any vehicle for any amount of time so you really can’t tell if someone is weaving before they hit you – especially at night. About the best thing you can do is to try to do your driving on the dates and during the hours least likely to have drunk drivers on the roads. There are no guarantees but the odds are better that you will have a safe trip.

What to Do if You Are In a Drunk Driving Accident

Despite your best efforts, you never know when you might be in the wrong place through no fault of your own and have to deal with the effects of drinking and driving. Here are some things you should and should not do after a car accident with a suspected drunk driver.

DO: 

• Call 911 if possible and let the dispatcher know if you suspect alcohol involvement
• Try to preserve any evidence you believe might be important to determine how the accident happened with pictures or video
• If you offer information, tell only the facts you know happened
• Seek medical attention either right away or later (if your injuries are not severe) so that there is a record of your injuries

DO NOT:

• Do not attempt to discuss what happened or otherwise engage a drunk driver
• Do not attempt to follow a drunk driver leaving the scene – but you might be able to get a picture of the vehicle/license plate
• Do not talk with anyone about the extent of your injuries or how the accident happened until you have received legal advice about the best way to proceed.

Whether it’s you or a loved one involved, drunk driving accidents can cause some of the most severe injuries because impaired drivers exhibit some of the most dangerous driving behaviors. A Philadelphia drunk driving accident lawyer at Soloff & Zerranos, PC, has seen hundreds of accidents involving alcohol impairment and knows how to get you the compensation you are entitled to from the drunk driver and his insurance company. Please contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.