Four Quick Facts About Drunk Driving Accidents in Alaska
Alaska drunk driving statutes are enacted to protect motorists from serious accidents, but statistics reveal that far too many drivers violate the law and put others at severe risk of harm. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 30 people die every day in DUI crashes – a rate of around one person every 50 minutes. In sum, drunk driving collisions lead to more than 10,000 fatalities every year, making up around 29% of all motor vehicle collision deaths.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a DUI crash, you might get some closure from knowing that the drunk driver faces significant criminal penalties. Still, this punishment does nothing to alleviate the losses you suffer. An Alaska motor vehicle accident lawyer can explain your options for seeking compensation through a civil claim, but four quick facts about DUI collisions may be helpful.
- To succeed in a claim, the motorist need not be convicted of DUI. Contrary to assumption, it is not necessary that the drunk driver be convicted for you to recover compensation. This is because the standard of proof is lower in a civil case as compared to a criminal matter. You just need to present evidence demonstrating that it is more likely than not that the other motorist was negligent, specifically by driving while intoxicated.
- The insurance company will not be quick to settle. You might expect an insurer to pay a claim quickly when its policyholder was drunk driving, but it will not pay out without conducting a thorough investigation. The focus of the probe will be finding ways to deny your claim or pay less, such as alleging that you were also negligent or your injuries were not that serious.
- It only takes a few drinks to render a driver impaired. NHTSA data indicates that there were almost 2,000 people killed in DUI crashes where the drunk driver had a low blood alcohol concentration (BAC). These accidents were based upon a motorist BAC of .01 to .07%, lower than the legal limit of .08% in Alaska.
- Family members have rights when a loved one dies in a DUI crash. If you lost a loved one because of a drunk driving collision, you could have a legal remedy through a wrongful death claim. Surviving family members may qualify to recover compensation based upon how the fatal collision affects their own lives, such as loss of consortium, guidance, support, and other contributions of the deceased.
Trust an Alaska Car Accident Attorney to Protect Your Rights
These facts about drunk driving accidents provide some basic information for victims, but there are many other details you need to know to get the compensation you deserve under Alaska law. You put your rights at risk if you try to represent yourself, so count on our team at Power & Power Law to protect them. Please contact our Anchorage, AK office today to set up your free case evaluation.