Drunk driving accidents in West Palm Beach remain a major concern, with many young people attending Palm Beach State College and as a popular spring break destination. Young people remain the demographic group most likely to become involved in impaired driving accidents. When a teen or young adult gets behind the wheel impaired, both passengers who are hurt as well as any other injured motorists harmed by the teen’s actions have a right to make a damage claim.
Young People Remain at Significant Risk for Impaired Driving
News OK recently reported on why so many young people continue to be at greater risk of an impaired driving accident. Research has shown one out of three drivers involved in a fatal accident with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher were between the ages of 21 and 24. The demographic group with the next highest rate of impaired driving in fatal accidents included people between the ages of 25 to 34, and the third highest group was people between the ages of 35 and 44.
Young people may choose to get behind the wheel when they are drunk because this demographic group tends to engage in high-risk behavior more than people who are older. As one young adult college student explained about his peer group, “many young adults have the ‘it’ll never happen to me’” mentality. While decades of public education on the issue of impaired driving have improved attitudes somewhat and made young people more aware of the fact DUI is dangerous, there are still a stubbornly high number of teens and young adults who get behind the wheel drunk. In fact, young people still make up 23 percent of all drivers who were in crashes and who had consumed alcohol before the accident happened.
Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A 813 Lucerne Avenue Lake Worth, FL 33460 Toll Free: (800) 608-2965 Office: (561) 533-0345 Fax: (561) 533-0195
