Authorities are conducting a felony investigation into a car accident that occurred early in the morning of March 2 in Murfreesboro. According to WKRN-TV, a 20-year-old driver and 21-year-old passenger were reportedly under the influence of alcohol when their vehicle went off the road and hit a mailbox as well as a utility pole. The collision caused the vehicle to come to rest in a front lawn of a nearby house. The impact of the car crash trapped them inside their vehicle. When first responders arrived on the scene, they had to use the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the barely-legal and illegal offenders from the vehicle. The driver reported only minor injuries, but the passenger had to be transported to a local hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
UNDERAGE DRUNK DRIVING IN TENNESSEE
We are thankful that no innocent bystanders were hurt by the driver’s choice to drink and drive. Recent studies compiled by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) show Tennessee as being ranked 11 out of the 51 states (plus Washington D.C.) for the least amount of DUI related deaths. However, the amount of offenders and fatalities are still significantly high, and the number of underage drivers under the influence is shocking. For Tennessee, the statistics are as follows:
- Approximately 22 percent of persons ages 12 to 20 have used alcohol in the past month.
- Roughly 15 percent of persons also in this age group have admitted to binge drinking in the past month. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at the same time or during the time span of a few hours on at least one day in out of the month.
- The amount Tennessee subsidizes for drunken driving fatalities is $1.2 billion.
- There are 54,081 three-time offenders of DUI, and 16,602 five-time offenders as of 2011.
When someone you love dies in a fatal car accident caused by the negligence of a drunk driver, our Nashville car accident lawyer understands how tragic and hard it can be to seek legal recourse. Our law firm is very experienced in handling these types of cases, and we want to help you get the damages you deserve. If you are unsure of what your next move needs to be, talk to us by phone at (615) 866-3938 or visit our website to fill out a contact form. We will review and assess your case for free. You have nothing to lose by contacting us, but you may be able to gain legal justice.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17