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Firm News

Arrest for Culpeper County man suspected of drunk driving
Posted on 8/26/2010
Student faces new charge in highway worker DUI hit-and-run
Posted on 7/28/2010
DUI and involuntary manslaughter charges for Stafford County woman
Posted on 2/25/2010
Culpeper DUI traffic stop leads to drug charges for Maryland couple
Posted on 12/20/2009
Manslaughter charges for Stafford man who killed two in drunk driving crash
Posted on 11/21/2009
Driving Under the Influence Kills Mother and Son
Posted on 9/23/2009
Rise in number of women caught driving under the influence of alcohol
Posted on 8/20/2009
Spotsylvania teen charged with DUI in Culpeper crash
Posted on 7/30/2009
Culpeper resident charged with DUI
Posted on 7/20/2009
Fatal beltway accident caused by drunk driver with numerous traffic violations
Posted on 7/15/2009

Library

Virginia Teen Drivers: Underage Drinking, Driving and Fatal Car Wrecks

Few things are as tragic as a promising life cut short because of a preventable crash. Sadly, every year high-school students in Virginia see their classmates seriously hurt or killed in auto accidents – accidents that for the most part could have been prevented.

One big risk factor for teen drivers is underage drinking. Teenagers, already at greater risk for being involved in a car crash because of their lack of driving experience and brains that aren’t fully developed, can cause serious wrecks if they get behind the wheel while intoxicated. It is a well-known fact that alcohol slows reaction times and impairs judgment, and drunken teenagers feel these effects even more strongly than many adults.

How big a problem is underage drinking?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration conducted a National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Their findings were sobering. For individuals age 12-17:

14.6 percent had consumed at least one alcoholic drink within 30 days before being surveyed
8.8 percent had binged on alcoholic beverages (more than 5 drinks within 2 hours)
2 percent drank alcohol heavily (more than 5 drinks on more than 5 occasions)

Key Point: Even teens who do not drink are at risk of an alcohol related auto accident

It is important for teenagers (and their parents) to realize that even if they don’t drink, they can still be hurt or killed in a crash because of underage drinking. This is because a teen’s friends can drink, and if the teen is not aware that they’ve been drinking or if the teen does not think underage drinking is a big deal, they might get into a car being driven by an intoxicated peer.

There are many cases of sober teenagers who don’t drink or do drugs being killed in alcohol related accidents – because their friends were drinking. If teens are not educated about the risks of underage alcohol use, especially dangers related to driving while intoxicated, they can suffer or die because of their friends’ negligent behavior.

Read more about teenagers and auto accidents and underage drinking and driving:

Culpeper & Warrenton residents: get help after a car wreck

Injured in a Virginia car crash? Please contact one of the Virginia offices of Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas today and let us review your case for no cost or obligation.

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