Some facts about driving while impaired in Tennessee

Every 51 minutes in the U.S., someone dies in an alcohol-related traffic accident. Crashes caused by drivers whose judgment is impaired by alcohol incur an annual cost of $59 billion.

The problem is massive and includes the fact that in 2010, more than 1.4 million drivers were taken into custody for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving. There were 10,322 deaths attributed to crashes as a result of alcohol-impaired driving in 2012. This amounts to almost a third of the annual total traffic accident deaths in the country.

The overall risk of a crash is higher for young people regardless of their BAC. From a cross-section of people with .08 percent BAC levels who were in a fatal crash in 2012, one third of them were ages 21 to 24. They were followed by 27 percent who were 25 to 38, and 24 percent who were 35 to 44.

Individuals can take a few steps to stay safer when their socializing involves alcoholic beverages. Those steps could start with choosing a designated driver for the group or taking a taxi. Another step is to take the keys away from any friend who might drive while impaired. Hosts of parties could remind their guests about having a designated driver or offer only non-alcoholic beverages to guests.

Car accidents involving impaired drivers can be devastating to the victims in the other vehicle or to the passengers traveling with the impaired driver. When an individual is injured or loses a loved one because of an impaired driver, they could be suffering additional stress due to medical bills, final expenses and loss of income. A personal injury attorney could help to prepare a viable case for compensation that could help ease that strain.