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Blog 
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Changes to "Move Over" law effective July 1, 2010
- National "Click It or Ticket" campaign begins today
- Special license plates for convicted DUI offenders?
- The fallout from a DUI conviction
- Can an anonymous tip be used as the sole justification for stopping a suspected drunk drivers?
Firm News
Former Virginia Beach deputy sentenced in DUI crash case
Posted on 6/27/2010
Shore Drive speed limit lowered to 35
Posted on 6/4/2010
Child Abuse Charges for Virginia Beach DUI Driver with Kids in Car
Posted on 5/31/2010
DUI Conviction for Former Virginia Beach Police Officer
Posted on 5/28/2010
Felony charges for "sexting" Franklin teens
Posted on 5/20/2010
Are alcoholic energy drinks to blame for Virginia Beach DUI death?
Posted on 4/30/2010
Virginia Beach city employee charged with DUI after hit-and-run crash
Posted on 4/30/2010
Bond revoked for man accused in Virginia Beach DUI hit-and-run
Posted on 4/26/2010
Richmond to Install Red-Light Cameras
Posted on 4/22/2010
St. Patty’s sobriety checkpoints lead to 9 Virginia Beach DUI arrests
Posted on 3/27/2010
Firm Library
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Can the Virginia bar or restaurant where you were drinking be held responsible for your DUI?
- What to expect after a Virginia DUI arrest
- Virginia DUI Attorney: Why you need to FIGHT HARD against DUI charges
- The high stakes of a DUI conviction in Virginia
- Virginia's Move Over/Slow Down law regarding emergency vehicles
Auto Accidents and Alcohol: Virginia Crash Statistics
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles collects traffic accident statistics that are published to their website every year. Below are the most recent statistics available on Virginia crashes involving alcohol, which are from 2008.
General Virginia Drunken Driving Facts
- Overall there were a total of 10,294 alcohol-related crashes, which accounted for 7.6 percent of all crashes
- 354 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents
- 43 percent of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol
- 7,000 people were injured in alcohol related crashes
- 10 percent of all injuries can be attributed to alcohol
Age of Drivers Caught Drinking
- Under 15 – 4
- Ages 15 through 20 – 1,167
- Ages 21 through 30 – 3,997
- Ages 31 through 40 – 1,952
- Ages 41 through 50 – 1,713
- Ages 51 through 60 – 869
- Ages 61 through 70 – 245
- Over 70 – 114
- Unknown – 227
How Intoxicated Drivers Cause Crashes
The Virginia alcohol-related crash statistics don’t provide much information about why drunk drivers cause crashes. There is a breakdown of what happened when an intoxicated driver crashed, but a full 53.41 percent of drivers give a reason of “other”. Of the remaining reasons, here are the top six:
- Hit and Run – 998 drivers (9.80 percent)
- Speeding – 976 drivers (9.58 percent)
- No Violation – 618 (6.07 percent)
- Following Too Close – 439 drivers (4.31 percent)
- Failure to Yield – 385 drivers (3.78 percent)
- Driver Distraction – 264 drivers (2.59 percent)
Physical Issues of Intoxicated Drivers
The majority of drivers (5,941 or 64.1 percent) found drinking and driving had no physical issues accompanying their drinking. Another 2,689 fall into the nebulous “other” category as far as physical issues. The small remaining percentage of drivers with a physical issue is split between four categories:
- Fatigued driver – 258 (2.8 percent)
- Driver apparently asleep – 204 (2.2 percent)
- Driver has physical defect – 155 (1.7 percent)
- Driver was ill – 22 (0.2 percent)
If you need help after being involved in an alcohol-related accident, then you need to contact the experienced DUI attorneys at Weisberg & Zaleski. Please call our Norfolk based office to discuss your case confidentially for no cost or obligation.
Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
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Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
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FAQs
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Will a traffic court's determination of guilt or innocence affect the outcome of my civil suit for personal injury?
- If I am guilty of the charge, shouldn't I plead guilty and pay the fine?
- Do you guarantee that my case will be successful?
- I have been asked to sign some forms by the police officers. What should I do?
- When should an attorney be present with me?