Last month, a New Mexico man was arrested for the eleventh time for driving under the influence. According to a report by KRWG, the man was on his way home from work when he realized that he was traveling down a one-way street. Once he realized that he was doing so, he attempted to make a U-turn, but instead rolled his sport utility vehicle.
By the time police arrived, the driver had crawled out of the car and was drunkenly stumbling about the crime scene. When he was tested for alcohol, the officers discovered that his blood alcohol content was .20, over twice the legal limit in New Mexico. The man was booked and was held on $15,000 cash-only bail. The suspected charges he will face are: Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Careless Driving, and Failure To Have Proof of Registration or Insurance.
Drunk Driving Kills in New Mexico
In New Mexico, drunk driving cases are all too common. In 2011, the most recent year surveyed, there were over 2,300 accidents where alcohol was a factor. Of those, 1,000 accidents resulted in some kind of bodily injury and 131 accidents resulted in one or more deaths.
Despite the Dangers, Drivers Still Drive Drunk
Drunk driving is an entirely preventable occurrence, which makes the fact that so many are losing their lives because of it that much more tragic. In New Mexico, drivers are not permitted to drive with a blood- or breath-alcohol content of more than .08. While the exact effect of alcohol on a person is different based on each individual, experts say that three drinks in two hours puts most people up to, if not over, the edge.
Civil Lawsuits Based on Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers cause accidents. And the laws of New Mexico allow for the victims of these accidents to recover for their medical bills, future medical expenses, and any pain and suffering experienced by the accident. In addition, sometimes courts will allow punitive damages which are designed to punish especially reckless behavior.
Damages in civil DWI suits can generally be recovered from both the driver and the driver’s insurance company, if the driver was insured. In some cases where an establishment over-serves alcohol to a customer who later causes an accident, there may also be an avenue of recovery through what is called the “Dram Shop” law. Dram Shop laws hold the establishment partially responsible because they over-served the defendant who caused the accident.
What To Do if You Have Been Involved in a New Mexico DWI Accident
If you have been involved in a serious New Mexico accident that you believe was due to the other driver’s intoxication, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages based on that driver’s irresponsible and dangerous behavior. To find out more about the New Mexico DWI laws and how victims can recover, speak to an experienced New Mexico personal injury attorney today. Click here, or call 505-243-4541 today to speak to a dedicated personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
New Mexico Appeals Court Holds Uninsured Motorist Lawsuit Barred by Claim Preclusion, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 7, 2013.
Another Medical Negligence Jury Verdict Issued Against Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 26, 2013.