Drunk driving is one of the main causes of car accidents in Missouri and the rest of the U.S. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drunk driving causes more than a quarter of fatal crashes.
But alcohol impairment is not the same everywhere you go. Some states and cities are worse than others. A new study looked at the data. For people in St. Joseph and Kansas City, there are a couple of reasons to worry.
Insurance Company Looks at Where Drunk Drivers Congregate
The company Insurify investigated where drunk drivers lived by counting how many drivers had a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in the past seven years. They then compared that number to how many drivers lived in a city, as well as to the national average in the U.S.
The results of the study found not only the percentage of people with a DUI in the country, but also in each city and county in the U.S.
The goal of the study was to find where other drivers were at risk—people who live in or near cities with a higher proportion of drivers with a DUI on their record stand a higher chance of being hit by one.
Two DUI Hotspots in Western Missouri
Across the country, 1.58% of drivers have a DUI on their record in the past seven years. However, two areas in the western Missouri region have more than twice that amount.
Out of the 65,513 residents in Shawnee, Kansas, Insurify’s study found that 3.96% of them had a DUI in their recent past. This shockingly high number put it sixth in the country for drunk driving. Located just over the border from Kansas City, and with many of its residents commuting to the city for work and play, all of these drivers put local Missourians at risk.
Further down in the rankings, but still over double the national proportion of DUIs per drivers, was Columbia, Missouri. Out of the 121,717 residents, there, 3.31% of them had a recent DUI. This was good enough for 24th in the rankings.
How Drunk Driving Impacts Personal Injury Lawsuits
People who drink and then get behind the wheel put others at unnecessary risk. If a drunk driver causes a car accident and you get hurt, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them in order to get compensation for your injuries. The fact that they were driving drunk will be strong evidence against them, and can be a huge help to your case.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
The personal injury and car accident attorneys at the Smith Law Office can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve after a crash involving a drunk driver. Reach out to us by calling our St. Joseph office at (816) 875-9373 or by contacting us online.