Walking After Drinking Can Be Hazardous

If you thought drinking and driving was dangerous, consider this: More than a third of pedestrians killed in 2011 had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit for driving, according to government data released this week.

Thirty-five percent of those killed, or 1,547 pedestrians, had blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, the legal limit for driving, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Half of the fatally injured pedestrians ages 25-34 were alcohol-impaired. Of those who were in their early 20s or in their mid-30s to mid-50s, just under half were impaired. Smaller portions of older and younger pedestrians involved in fatal accidents were impaired. Less than a third of the pedestrians 55 or older and those younger than 20 had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit.

By comparison, 13 percent of drivers involved in crashes in which pedestrians were killed had blood alcohol concentrations that exceeded the legal limit. Overall, about a third of traffic fatalities in 2011 — 31 percent, or 9,878 deaths — were attributable to crashes involving drivers with BAC of .08 or higher.

The data come on the heels of an NHTSA campaign to reduce pedestrian deaths. There were 4,432 pedestrian fatalities in 2011, up 3 percent from the previous year.

Anti-drunk driving campaigns have been encouraging more people to walk home after a night of drinking. But walking after drinking, these statistics show, poses obvious danger.

Who is at Fault?

Getting hit by a car is a traumatic experience. A pedestrian injured by a negligent driver may have legal options to receive compensation for medical bills and other expenses. It’s important to obtain counsel to help determine your options.

If you have been injured in an accident, our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at the Joye Law Firm may be able to help. Call (888) 324-3100 or use our online contact form for answers to your questions about legal proceedings.

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