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Brain or Spinal Cord Injury

• Student Athlete Appeals to Committee About Concussion Caused Problems: What That Means for Athletic Youth in KS and MO

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DRUNK DRIVING AND BRAIN INJURY CONNECTION

DUI AND BRAIN INJURY
Information gathered by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that automobile accidents involving driving under the influence, aka DUI, DWI and drunk driving, results in a death every 30 minutes in the U.S.! Collisions involving non-fatal injuries occur every 2 minutes. Many of these non-fatal crashes are severe; many result in traumatic brain injury (TBI); many right here in Missouri and Kansas.

And the startling statistics don't end there:

• 2004 (last year of complete statistics) - almost 17,000 people died in the United States from a drunk driving collision; almost 40% of all motor vehicle collision fatalities
• Annually auto collisions caused by intoxicated drivers in the United States costs in excess of $50,000,000

In an effort to reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents that commonly result in death and serious injury including traumatic brain injury, people can familiarize themselves with the DUI laws that are in effect in their particular state in order to assist in implementing and enforcing effective drunk driving reduction strategies. For example, minimum drinking age statutes and zero tolerance laws for drivers that are under 21 years old.

Some of the laws relating to drunk driving in Missouri and Kansas that are designed to discourage and reduce drunk driving include the following:

Mandatory Blood Alcohol testing for drivers who are killed in a motor vehicle collision
Mandatory Blood Alcohol testing for drivers who involved in a fatal motor vehicle collision but survive
Felony DUI (laws make DUI/DWI a felony based upon the number of convictions
Alcohol ignition interlock installation required for repeat offenders
Penalties for test refusal are greater than those for test failure
Mandatory jail for second offense DUI

Seizure and impound of vehicles of repeat offenders
Mandatory alcohol education, assessment and treatment for those convicted of DUI
.08 per se (laws that make it illegal to drive a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater)
Administrative license suspension for drivers who fail a BAC test or refuse to blow
A prohibition against plea bargaining or reducing an alcohol-related offense to a non-alcohol related offense
Happy Hour laws (a prohibition against reduced price and multiple drink specials that encourage excessive drinking)
Open container law prohibiting alcohol in the passenger compartment
Vehicular Homicide charges allowed against a drunk driver who kills another intentionally or unintentionally
Dram Shop
Sobriety Checkpoints
Zero Tolerance laws making it illegal for persons under 21 years old to drive with any alcohol in their blood

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys has more than 15 years of experience representing the rights of injury victims who have suffered serious injury including brain injury due to motor vehicle collisions caused by drunk drivers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a drunk driver, you may be angry and have many immediate and important questions. Answers to your questions can be found on this site. You can also download our FREE book, 10 Essential Steps You Must Take to Protect Your Injury Claim. Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 816-471-5111 for a FREE consultation with no obligation.

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Latest News

• Posted on 12/26/2011Student Athletes Discussing How Concussions Affect Them Can Help Student Athletes in Kansas and Missouri
• Posted on 11/16/2011NCAA Faces Lawsuit Alleging Lack of Protection for Athletes from Head Injury

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Brain or Spinal Cord Injury

• A severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in permanent and total inability to function. Can a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) also have serious consequences?
  

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