Indiana Drunk Driving Accidents Remain Leading Cause of Injuries & Fatalities

Whether it’s one of the several Indiana news stories covering regular occurrences of drunk driving accidents, concerns about habitual DUI offenders, or the presence of sobriety checkpoints, Hoosiers should be well-acquainted with the perils of drinking and driving.

In fact, our state has some little-known history that places us at the forefront of the fight against drunk driving: The earliest version of the modern-day breathalyzer, known then as the ‘Drunkometer,’ was first tested in Indiana by Indianapolis police in 1938.

Yet, despite the media’s grisly reminders, official warnings, and pioneering efforts, Indiana continues to see serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths attributed to drunk driving accidents.

Having represented a number of Hoosiers injured by drunk drivers, attorney Matt Boulton has given his thoughts on why driving under the influence persists.

“I believe the reason we continue to see such high numbers of alcohol-related accidents is due to a few factors:

1.) When someone drinks, they simply overestimate their ability to make good decisions, including whether or not they should drive. It becomes the “I’ve only had a couple, I’m fine to drive,” fallacy.

2.) Indiana has an alarming number of habitual offenders who continue to be allowed to drive motor vehicles.

3.) When an inebriated driver gets away with it once, they erroneously, and dangerously, assume they can do it again.

With today’s technology allowing easy access to services like rideshare, we’d hope to see a steep decline in DUIs and collisions involving impaired drivers, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case.”

Attorney Matt Boulton

Indiana Drunk Driving Statistics

The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that an average of 37 people die each day in alcohol-related collisions across the U.S., with the total number of fatalities in 2022 equaling 13,524.

And Indiana’s place among national data sets reveals some disturbing trends regarding alcohol-related arrets and incidents.

Since 2019, Indiana State Police (ISP) have seen an alarming increase in the number of DUI (OWI) cases. A local news report listed the following 5-year span totals:

• 2023 – 2,737 cases (This number is likely higher, as it only included cases through September 8th, 2023.)
• 2022 – 2,686 cases
• 2021 – 2,787 cases
• 2020 – 2,794 cases
• 2019 – 1,920 cases

Keep in mind, these numbers are exclusive to ISP and don’t account for the state’s local departments. A wider look reveals an even bigger problem for the Hoosier state.

Including ISP’s cases, the NHTSA includes government-funded enforcement data that also records impaired citations and arrests at the county level, dating back to 2014:

• 2022 – 4,497
• 2021 – 3,491
• 2020 – 5,818
• 2019 – 4,591
• 2018 – 5,556
• 2017 – 5,966
• 2016 – 5,776
• 2015 – 4,993
• 2014 – 5,983

In 2022, Indiana recorded 152 fatalities attributed to driving under the influence. In a number of these cases, the victim who sustained the fatal injury was a third-party who had no fault for the collision.

Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver?

Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents account for some of the most serious collisions on Indiana’s roadways. The impaired driver may be traveling at a high rate of speed; they may be driving on the wrong side of a highway or interstate; or they fail to see a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Attorney Boulton’s clients who were injured by drunk drivers have sustained an array of serious injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries, e.g., concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Lacerations
• Burn injuries
• Wrongful death

If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver in Indiana, you have the legal right to seek various types of compensation for your injuries.

Attorney Boulton often seeks compensation for the following types of damages sustained by his clients:

• Medical bills and treatment costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

To help ensure you receive maximum compensation, one of attorney Boulton’s first tasks is to uncover all the potential sources of liability insurance and verify the limits of each policy.

For example, in addition to pursuing the defendant’s insurance policy, some case investigations have revealed that a drunk driver was overserved at a bar or restaurant, leading to that establishment becoming a second source of potential liability.

Ultimately, the total compensation you receive for being injured by a drunk driver will depend on the facts specific to your case.

Do Victims Receive More Money if the Other Driver Was Drunk?

There have always been a number of misconceptions when it comes to determining the value of a personal injury case, and one of the more stubborn myths involves accidents with drunk drivers.

It is sometimes incorrectly assumed that an accident victim’s case is automatically worth more if they were injured by a drunk driver. The thought process being, “the worse the behavior, the more valuable the case.”

Unfortunately, irresponsible actions often only serve to help verify liability. And while there are always exceptions, the fact that an at-fault driver was drunk will likely have little, if any, effect on case value.

Questions After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver?

Due to the legal complexity that can arise in a drunk driving accident case, victims can be looking for answers to a variety of questions, such as:

• What if the other driver was uninsured?
• What happens if the defendant was overserved at a bar or restaurant?
• What happens if my bills exceed the defendant’s insurance policy limits?
• Will the case go to trial because the other driver was drunk?
• What if I was a passenger in a drunk driver’s vehicle?

To help secure your legal rights and understand how certain factors may affect your potential case, you should always consult with an experienced Indiana personal injury attorney.

Additionally, Boulton Law Group advises drunk driving accident victims to contact an attorney that has a history of handling similar cases.

About Boulton Law Group

Boulton Law Group is an Indiana personal injury law firm exclusively dedicated to helping Hoosiers recover compensation follow their accident.

To some’s surprise, attorney Matt Boulton handles each case from start to finish. All consultations, ongoing communication, and negotiations with the insurance company will be handled by attorney Boulton. This fact makes the firm sought after by victims and families throughout the state who place a premium value on personal attention and custom legal solutions.

And to help ensure everyone, no matter their circumstance, has equal access to award-winning legal representation, Boulton Law Group offers a Zero Fee Guarantee. This means you will never be charged for a consultation, and the only time the firm receives payment is after your case is won.

If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver, you can send your story directly to Matt by using the firm’s confidential, free contact form.