Protect Yourself from Drunk Drivers

September 30, 2010 (Press-News.org) More people these days are drinking and driving. This is especially scary if you are one of the 4 in 5 people that view drunk driving as a serious threat to the safety of yourself and family. A new study conducted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has found that 1 in 5 drivers admit to driving within two hours of drinking. It also estimated the number of drunken driving trips taken by drivers in the past month to be 85.5 million, up from 73.7 million in 2004.

In addition, the study found that young adult drivers are drinking more. The 16 to 20 year olds who admit to drinking and driving say they have six drinks in a sitting, while the average 21-to 24 year olds are drinking more than 4 drinks in a sitting.

While this information may come as a shock to many, it serves as a warning to anyone getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. With 17 million people having driven drunk in the past year, it is critical that those of us who are driving safely take precautions.

First, protect yourself before you are out on the road by paying for good auto insurance. Be sure to buy medical payments coverage of at least $5000. Consider purchasing $10,000 or $25,000 worth of medical payments coverage for extra security. Also, it is vitally important to have uninsured motorist coverage equivalent to your liability coverage, as many drunk drivers are uninsured. If one of these drunk drivers does happen to cross paths with you, you want to make sure that your expenses will be taken care of if an accident occurs. If you are driving without insurance, you run the risk of paying for a drunk driver's mistake with high medical bills.

Secondly, always pay attention while driving and drive cautiously. Be on the lookout for anyone driving erratically. If you see a drunken motorist swerving in front of you, don't speed up to pass him. Drunk drivers are easily distracted and often swerve into different lanes. Maintain a safe distance and follow with caution or pull over and wait until its safe to continue driving. Be prepared to take quick, evasive action.

Finally, if you are involved in a drunk driving collision, be sure to speak with an attorney immediately. An attorney will give you advice and tell you how to proceed in this difficult situation. He may even be able to refer you to a good doctor if necessary. An attorney such as Jack Bloxham, with over 25 years of experience in dealing with auto accidents, can help the victims of drunk drivers get the settlement they deserve for their injuries.

Although the numbers are scary, you can protect yourself and your family from these drunken drivers. Be alert and exercise caution while driving, especially at night after the bars close, to make sure that you don't find yourself needing an attorney.

Article provided by Injury Law Center - Law Offices of Jack Bloxham
Visit us at www.jackbloxham.com