Practice Areas
- Car Accidents & Injuries
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Uninsured Motorist Claims
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Insurance Claim Denials
- Construction Accidents & Injuries
- Virginia Workers Compensation
- Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
- Wrongful Death
Blog 
Car Accidents & Injuries
- Car accident alert: is your infant safe?
- The Top 5 Causes of Virginia Traffic Accidents
- How is Virginia’s transportation budget battle going to affect you?
- Motorcyclist pays the ultimate price on the GW Parkway
- Do laws banning cell phone use while driving really work?
- The US Government decides to further investigate Jeep Liberty defect
- Rollover risks – how safe is your SUV?
- Car Accident Deaths Increase Starting At Age 12
- New car seat rating system launched
- So long, abusive driving fees!
Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Is your life at risk from a medically unfit driver?
- Distracted Tractor-Trailer Driver Takes Two Lives
Drunk Driving Accidents
- Getting high-risk drunk drivers off the road
- Back road drunks – beware!
- Two drunk drivers slam into construction equipment, kill worker
Motorcycle Accidents
Insurance Claim Denials
Virginia Workers Compensation
General
- New Virginia DUI Law Takes Effect January 1, 2008
- Mandatory arbitration – good for business, bad for you
- Is your car watching you?
- Have you talked to your teenage driver about auto safety?
Firm News
- Virginia State Police Trooper Continues to Recover From Drunk Driving Accident
- Drivers With Prior DWI Convictions Pose Greatest Risk of Fatal Crashes
- Woman Dies In Weekend Motorcycle Crash
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces Nationwide Initiative to Check Child Safety Seats
- Virginia Abduction, Robbery Ends in Fatal Car Crash
- Culpeper auto accident takes life of teen
- Trooper witnesses Thursday morning crash in Culpeper
- Culpeper girl, 6, drowns in Strasburg
- Man pleads to DUI manslaughter
- Fix at Deadly Culpeper Intersection to be Delayed
Library
Car Accidents & Injuries
- Focus on Infants: Is Your Child Passenger Safe?
- The Top 5 Causes of Traffic Accidents by Age Group
- Traffic Accident Reduction – do you C.A.R.E?
Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Are Medically Unfit Bus and Truck Drivers Endangering Your Life?
- The Deadly Facts about Tractor Trailer Accidents
- What Makes Tractor Trailer Accidents Unique?
Drunk Driving Accidents
- The Problem of High-Risk Drunk Drivers in Fatal Crashes
- How Would Lowering the Drinking Age Affect Teen Drivers?
- Virginia to Crack Down on Drunk Driving
Uninsured Motorist Claims
Motorcycle Accidents
- Are Gas Prices Affecting Motorcycle Safety?
- Are Motorcycles Getting Deadlier?
- Motorcyclists – How to Protect Yourself on the Road
Insurance Claim Denials
- Help! My Insurance Claim was Denied!
- Are You Really in Good Hands with Allstate?
- Deny, Delay, Defend! Why You Can’t Trust Your Insurance Company
Construction Accidents & Injuries
Virginia Workers Compensation
General
Top 15 Ways Drunk Drivers Cause Accidents
We all know that drunk driving is a problem across the country, and especially in Virginia. The Virginia DMV has highlighted impaired driving as one of their top issues for 2008, and campaigns against drunk driving such as StopImpairedDriving.org funded by the National Highway Transportation Safety (NHTSA) and education and outreach by organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) all try to educate drivers about the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI).
However, the message isn’t getting to everyone. In 2006 – the last year for which statistics are available – there were 11,736 alcohol related auto accidents in the state of Virginia, which resulted in 7,543 injuries and 374 fatalities. That year, Virginia had 29,595 DUI convictions – up 5.4% from the previous year. Nationally, there are over a million arrests each year for driving under the influence – that’s one million drivers who could have – and may have – caused a serious or fatal auto accident.
How Impaired Drivers Cause Accidents
In Virginia, the following driver actions contributed to alcohol-related crashes in 2006:
- 1,113 drivers were driving too fast
- 1,305 drivers were involved in a hit and run accident
- 453 drivers failed to yield
- 451 drivers were following the vehicle in front of them too closely
- 366 drivers ignored a traffic control signal like a red light or stop sign
- 366 drivers were distracted
- 277 drivers were driving left of center, but weren’t passing
- 181 drivers made an improper turn
- 173 drivers made an improper or unsafe lane change
- 101 drivers passed another vehicle improperly
- 87 drivers backed their vehicles up improperly
- 68 drivers were trying to avoid another vehicle
- 15 drivers were traveling without their lights on
- 12 drivers were illegally or improperly parked
- 12 drivers were trying to avoid a pedestrian
In addition to the above, there were 5,932 crashes caused by other means, 693 crashes where no violations were found, 175 crashes where no reason was stated.
Keeping Impaired Drivers Off the Road
Each of us can do our part to prevent accidents and fatalities from impaired drivers. First and foremost, never get behind the wheel after having a drink – and never accept a ride from somebody who has been drinking. Try to plan ahead – if you know that you’ll be going out to have a drink, line up a designated driver who will stay sober and ensure that the members of your party make it home safely. In addition, if you find yourself stuck after having too much to drink, spend the night at your host’s home or take a taxi back to your own home. The bottom line is that there is never a good reason or excuse to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
The attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas want to hear from you if you or someone you love has been involved in an accident with an impaired driver. There is no reason for you to suffer the after effects of a tragic accident alone – and you deserve justice. Please contact the law offices of Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas today and let us work with you for the compensation that you deserve.
DULANEY, LAUER & THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
Free Case Evaluation
Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas, LLP
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 888-907-2631
DULANEY, LAUER &
THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Get Directions
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
Get Directions
Our Attorneys
Resources
- Car Accidents & Injuries
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Insurance Claim Denials
- Virginia Workers Compensation
- Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
- Wrongful Death
- General
FAQ
Car Accidents & Injuries
- Why hire a lawyer? Can't I just resolve this matter with the insurance company on my own?
- Does an injury case require an attorney who "specializes" in personal injury law?
- If I hire an attorney will that prolong the resolution of my case or guarantee that it goes to trial?
Uninsured Motorist Claims
- I was injured by a "hit and run" driver who fled the scene and whose identity is unknown. Do I have a case? Against whom?
- My auto insurance policy has "uninsured motorist" coverage. What is this?
Insurance Claim Denials
Construction Accidents & Injuries
- I was struck by a bulldozer while working on a construction site and seriously injured my leg. Who is liable?
- Will pursuing a lawsuit for a construction accident injury jeopardize my rights to workers compensation?