Driving Under the Influence in Austin Is More Common Than You May Think
Austin, Texas, is one of the busiest and most exciting towns in the southwest. With events like the Keep Austin Weird Fest, Blues on the Green, the Austin Film Fest, and the Urban Music Festival, it’s no wonder that people from all over the state and country come to this buzz-worthy town.A serious problem Austin faces, however, is its high rate of drunk-driving incidents. In fact, the city made national headlines in March 2014 when a drunk driver allegedly steered his car into a crowd of people at South by Southwest, which injured dozens and took the lives of four.
A Look at the Numbers Behind Drinking and Driving in Austin
People who come to Austin expect to have fun and make memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, many experience heartbreak and tragedy because of drunk driving. Here, we take a look at just how prevalent driving while under the influence is in our community:
- Crash statistics. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a total of 1,361 DUI-related crashes occurred in 2013. Of these crashes, 27 people died and 503 were seriously injured.
- Fatalities by age. Not surprisingly, the most common age group to become fatally injured because of DUI-related crashes is those between 21 and 25 years old. Coming in close behind is the 26- to 30-year-old group, and then the 31-to-35 age group.
- Most common times for DUIs. As you might expect, most DUI crashes occur on the weekends and late at night. Between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. is when a majority of the accidents take place, with the period between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. coming in close behind.
If You Were Injured by a Drunk Driver
Drunk driving accidents are unfair and inexcusable. If you’ve been injured in such a crash, the experienced legal team behind Wayne Wright LLP will fight for your rights and attempt to get you the compensation you deserve.
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will come to you for a consultation if you are too injured to travel. Contact us today through our website or by phone to find out how we can help.