A recently released NHTSA study shows a near 30% increase in the number of women arrested nationally for driving under the influence. The study also revealed that in 2008 there were 36 fatal Alabama car accidents that involved a female driver with a blood alcohol content equal to .08 or higher. Further, in 2008 there were 257 fatal Alabama car accidents that involved a male driver with a blood alcohol content equal to .08 or higher. While the number of DUI arrest for men decreased by about 7.5%, the number of males arrested for DUI trumped the number of females by four to one. According to NHTSA about 2000 fatalities a year involve an impaired female driver.
In some instances, not only can the intoxicated driver be held liable for causing a car wreck, but the bar, restaurant or retail establishment that sold the drunk the alcohol can be held liable. Under Alabama’s dram shop laws, a retail establishment is prohibited from selling or providing alcohol to a person who under the totality of the circumstances appears to be intoxicated. An experienced Alabama Car Accident Lawyer will always investigate the cause of the auto accident and if alcohol is involved, determine how and under what circumstances the drunk driver obtained the alcohol. For more information on alcohol related accidents and Alabama’s dram shop law, see our recent post.