It’s Alcohol Awareness Week 2024 (July 1–7). This year’s focus is on “Understanding Alcohol Harm.” Drink-driving remains a major concern in the UK, causing devastating consequences for victims and their families.
The devastating impact of drunk driving
- Government data reveals that between 240 and 280 people lose their lives annually due to drink-driving collisions, resulting in devastating effects for their family and friends.
- Drink drivers endanger everyone on the road. In 2021, drink-driving incidents reached their highest level since 2009, with 1,880 people killed or seriously injured—a 23% increase from 2020.
- Wales had the highest casualty rate (7.3%), followed by England (5.2%) and Scotland (4.1%). Scotland’s lower drink-drive limit might explain its lower rate.
*Data from RAC and gov.co.uk
How Personal Injury Solicitors Help Those Involved Who Are Victims of a Drink Drive Road Traffic Accident
Following such an accident, those who have sustained injuries as a result may unfortunately have life-changing injuries that impact their emotional and financial well-being. Here is a guide about the benefits of hiring a local Personal Injury Solicitor.
To assist with the burdens that such an accident can have and also to take the strain off an individual who has been injured as a result, a personal injury solicitor can help in the following ways:
Seek Compensation
As personal injury solicitor we guide victims through the legal process to claim compensation for both general damages (pain, suffering, and loss of amenity—the injuries themselves) and, in addition, special damages (which are those losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, travel costs, the purchase of medication, and if there has been a serious injury, any future losses, including care, provision of equipment at home, or home adaptations).
Expert Guidance
We provide our knowledge and support throughout the claim process, ensuring all legal requirements are met, and looking to maximise the level of compensation an individual is awarded.
Understanding if your claim will succeed
We explain the prospects of your claim succeeding and what evidence could be obtained that may increase the prospects of success.
Taking Action to Reduce Drink Driving Accidents
There are various options to reduce the levels of drink driving and the accidents caused by it, which include:
- Stricter legal sanctions against offenders.
- Alcohol education programs to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.
- Community support for individuals struggling with alcohol dependence.
Interestingly, more younger drivers do decide to avoid any alcoholic drinks if they are driving or will arrange an alternative form of transport if they are drinking alcohol. The increase in the availability of 0% or low-alcohol drinks can only be a great move in the right direction to decrease drink driving.
Seeking Help After a Drink Driving Accident
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, there are some initial steps it would be worth taking:
Gather Evidence
Ensure you obtain details of the police who attended the scene of the accident, including names, badge numbers, station, and police report number. It may take some time for a police report to become available if they are charging the individual who was driving under the influence of alcohol with a criminal offense. Obtain the details of any witnesses and see if there is any CCTV or dashcam footage.
Contact a Specialist Solicitor
Seek legal advice from a solicitor experienced in personal injury following a drink-driving accident.
Free Consultation
At Hansells Solicitors we offer a free 30-minute consultation with Louise Westby, a solicitor with over ten years of experience in both claimant and defendant personal injury cases.
Hansells Solicitors has offices in Norwich, Aylsham, and North Walsham, and Cromer; Louise can attend to any of these offices or arrange an initial telephone call.
Louise Westby’s Areas of Expertise:
- Personal injury claims
- Road traffic accidents
- Assessing compensation for the injury and special damages
Additional resources and support
·      Alcohol Change UK: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/