Our last blog touched upon how intoxicated drivers endanger the lives of other people. Reports of drunken drivers are especially tragic if the driver took the life of a child. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 2,335 children died in drunken driving accidents over a five-year period. In 68 percent of those deaths, the child was in the vehicle with the impaired driver.
Despite all the warnings and data on drunken driving, too many drivers get behind the wheel with a child in the car. In many cases, the driver does not bother putting the child in proper safety restraints. Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), along with state leaders across the country, are working toward stiffer penalties for drunken drivers with children in the vehicle. Fortunately, Louisiana has been successful in passing such laws.
In Louisiana, first, second, and third-time offenders who commit DUI while a passenger age 12 or under is in the vehicle must serve the mandatory minimum prison sentence without the possibility of a suspended sentence. Fourth-time offenders who commit a DUI while a passenger under 12 is in the vehicle must serve at least two years in prison, without the benefit of a suspended sentence.
For more information on car crashes and their causes, visit our website for more information on vehicle accidents. You can always contact us directly at 504-522-7885 to speak with a car accident attorney for a free case review.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury lawyers