If you are like most people in Pennsylvania, you take the responsibility of driving a motor vehicle seriously. You understand that this privilege comes with the expectation that you should operate your vehicle responsibly for yourself, anyone in your vehicle and anyone else on the road whether in a vehicle, on a bike or on foot. Sadly, it seems that not all residents in the state take this approach to driving.
Records from the National Traffic Safety Administration show that speeding and alcohol continue to be factors in many vehicular deaths every year in Pennsylvania. Both of these factors are completely within the ability of drivers to control as they can choose to not drive after drinking just like they can choose to obey speed limits. In the five years spanning from 2013 through 2017, 77 percent of all accident deaths in Mercer County occurred in crashes in which excessive speed or impairment by alcohol were noted factors. A total of 54 people died in crashes involving at least one of these factors.
Statewide, 2017 saw 1,137 deaths on all roads, highways and freeways. Of those, 314 happened in crashes involving alcohol and another 468 took place in wrecks in which at least one driving was going over the speed limit.
If you would like to learn more about how to seek help after you or one of your family members has been involved in an accident caused by a drunk or speeding driver, please feel free to visit the crash assistance page of our Pennsylvania personal injury website.