Each day motor vehicle accidents occur in the state of Wisconsin. There are multiple reasons that they occur. While sometimes something other than driver activity is to blame for such an incident, much of the time it is the exact opposite and a person behind the wheel of a car is at fault. That fault may be the result of multiple negligent activities including drunk driving. Drunk driving accidents can result in serious injuries to those involved and sometimes even death.
This is a problem that plagues roads throughout the nation, including the state of Wisconsin. According to MADD, close to a third of all traffic deaths across the country are the result of this activity. In the state of Wisconsin in 2012, out of a total of 5,024 alcohol related crashes, (defined as someone with a BAC of .01 or higher), 2,907 resulted in injuries. A total of 200 deaths were attributed to drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher.
One way of trying to reduce the number of these accidents that occur is to pass laws prohibiting the activity. In many states, a first drunk driving offense is serious. That is not the case in Wisconsin however. Instead, it is a traffic ticket. While the passage of more strict drunk driving laws might reduce the number of drunk driving accidents that occur, it likely would not eliminate them completely leaving residents of the state having to deal with serious injuries or the death of a loved one.
Following a drunk driving accident the injured person might decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver. For the best chance of securing positive results in one of these cases it is a good idea to contact a lawyer sooner rather than later.
Source: MADD, "About Drunk Driving," Accessed Sept. 19, 2014