Drunk drivers can cause significant harm to victims but resources are available to help drunk driving accident victims. In Oklahoma, there were 3,824 drunk driving accident-related injuries during 2015 when drivers had a blood alcohol content level of .01 or higher. In addition, there were a total of 2,507 drunk driving accidents during 2015 in Oklahoma when the driver had a BAC of .01 or higher. During 2015 in Oklahoma, there were 154 drunk driving-related fatalities when a driver had a BAC of .08 or higher. Overall, drunk driving-related fatalities accounted for 23 percent of traffic fatalities in Oklahoma during 2015.
From 2003 to 2012, there were 2,205 drunk driving accident deaths in Oklahoma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in three traffic-related deaths involves a drunk driver. Each drunk driving accident impacts victims and families of victims. Victims can suffer a variety of injuries and harm that can prevent them from working and may hamper their lives well into the future. As a result, victims harmed by a drunk driver have different protections available to them through the legal process.
Commonly, criminal charges and citations can be used to establish the negligence of a party such as a drunk driver and help victims and family members recover compensation for damages suffered in a drunk driving accident. Victims may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering damages and some other types of damages depending on the circumstances. There were a total of 18,944 DUI arrests during 2015 in Oklahoma and drunk drivers may face both the criminal and civil process when they have harmed victims in a drunk driving accident.
It is important for victims of drunk driving accidents to be familiar with all of the resources available to assist them with the recovery process following a drunk driving accident. A drunk driving accident can create physical, financial and emotional disruption for victims which is why they should be familiar with the protections available to them.
Source: Madd.org, “Oklahoma,” Accessed June 6, 2016
