Drinking and Driving Causes 11,000 Wrongful Death Accidents Every Year
Adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2010—that is almost 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day—according to a CDC Vital Signs study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The four million adults who drink and drive each year put everyone on the road at risk,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “In fact, nearly 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involve an alcohol–impaired driver.”
“When drunk drivers make a mistakes on the road, they tend to be major mistakes like crossing into oncoming traffic, rolling their car or striking an object,” said Attorney Fred Pritzker. “The results are often catastrophic.”
The study also found that:
- Men were responsible for 81 percent of drinking and driving in 2010.
- Young men, ages 21–34, made up only 11 percent of the U.S. population in 2010, yet were responsible for 32 percent of all episodes of drinking and driving.
- Eighty–five percent of drinking and driving episodes were reported by people who also reported binge drinking. Binge drinking means five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women during a short period of time.
Drunk Driver May Be Suspected Cause of MN Car Accident Deaths
A Maple Grove, Minnesota car accident has left two people dead, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The accident occurred around 1 a.m. on County Road 81 in Maple Grove on Sunday morning when a man suspected of driving impaired drove through a red light.
According to the police report, a man from Albertville, Minnesota was stopped by a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputy who suspected he was driving impaired. But the driver fled when he was stopped and continued speeding along County Rd 81. Witnesses say the vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of County Road 81 and 93rd Avenue N and hit another car. The driver of that vehicle was a 29-year-old Buffalo, MN woman who then died. The suspected drunk driver died also.
Drunk Driving Wrongful Death Lawsuit Information
The family of someone killed by a drunk driver may be able to file a lawsuit and recover money for the following:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses
- Loss of potential earnings
- Loss of advice, assistance, protection and counsel
- Loss of comfort and society
- Punitive damages (if proven there was disregard for the safety or rights of others)
One type of claim the family would make would likely be a dram shop claim. This is a lawsuit against the establishment that over-served the drunk driver. According to Pritzker Olsen attorneys:
Under Minnesota Statutes, section 340A.502, it is illegal for bars, restaurants and other places where liquor is sold (dram shops) to give, sell or furnish alcoholic beverages for consumption by an obviously intoxicated person. If a dram shop does that, the dram shop is liable for any resulting injury or death. For example, if a drunk driver hits another vehicle and kills the other driver or a passenger, the dram shop is liable and will have to compensate the surviving spouse and next of kin.
Read more about a dram shop wrongful death claim or contact Pritzker Olsen for a free consultation.
Information from:
stmichael.patch.com/articles/two-dead-following-morning-accident-in-maple-grove
kstp.com/news/stories/S2193399.shtml?cat=1
Royalton Superintendent Dies in Crash
A 49-year-old St. Cloud man was jailed after his pickup truck rear-ended a car driven by John P. Franzoia, 62, the long-time superintendent of Royalton Public Schools. Franzoia died Saturday, one day after the collision.
The St. Cloud Times reported that police detected alcohol in the driver of the pickup truck, Dale Matthies, 49. According to a report by the Minnesota State Patrol, Matthies’ vehicle slammed into the rear of a Mazda car driven by Franzoia, who was superintendent in Royalton the past 18 years. Matthies was not seriously injured.
The collision occurred at 6:11 p.m. near the intersection of Minnesota Hwy. 15 and Stearns County Road 1. Sartell Police assisted the State Patrol in responding to the crash.
When someone dies in a Minnesota car accident due to the negligence of another, the spouse and next of kin can recover monetary damages for the car accident death under Minnesota Statutes, section 573. Punitive damages for the car accident death can be recovered when someone demonstrates for the court that the acts of the defendant show deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others.
When you suffer injuries or the loss of a family member in a car crash that is due, even in part, to the involvement of alcohol, the lawyers at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys always investigate whether a dram shop claim should be pursued.
A spouse, child, parent, guardian, employer, or other person injured in person, property, or means of support, or who incurs other pecuniary loss by an intoxicated person or by the intoxication of another person, has a right of action in the person’s own name for all damages sustained against a person who caused the intoxication of that person by illegally selling alcoholic beverages.
Franzoia was an award-winning superintendent who was widely admired for his dedication to the well-being of the district’s 700-plus students. School Board Chairman Thomas Justin told the St. Cloud Times that Franzoia was dedicated, hard-working conscientious and loyal. “The viability of the district was first,” Justin said.
Phil Gurbada, a principal in the school district, said Franzoia’s death is a major shock to the community.
“I’m feeling a lot of grief. John is a good friend. I’ve worked with him a long time.”
