alcohol and drug assessment, alcohol biomarkers, drunk driving, drunk driving accidents, [[title]], repeat drunk drivers, traffic accident, traffic fatalitiesWisconsin has the highest rate of drunk driving in the country and an even worse repeat offender problem. More than one-third of convicted drunk drivers in the state are repeat offenders with previous drunk driving convictions.

Wisconsin's Drunk Driving Problem

With more than 33, 000 drunk driving convictions annually and one-third of Wisconsin drivers admitting to driving under the influence, monitoring repeat offenders has been a focus of the state. Drivers are required to take an alcohol and drug assessment, but this is an unreliable method. It relies on trained professionals posing questions to drivers regarding their alcohol and drug consumption. It is easy to see how these results would not be accurate.

Alcohol Biomarkers

In an effort to get ahead of the problem of repeat offenders, multiple municipalities in Wisconsin are using biological evidence as means of identifying repeat drunk drivers. By testing the blood and nails of the driver, scientists may look for alcohol biomarkers indicating substance abuse. This test would be done when the driver undergoes the drug and alcohol assessment. Initial results have found that drivers who tested positive for the biomarkers are more likely to be re-arrested for drunk driving. Under this system, drivers with higher recidivism tendencies can be targeted for additional alcohol abuse treatments. Because the biomarker tests, unlike standard blood tests, can identify alcohol use over a longer period of time, the tests can be used to encourage long-term sobriety.

Injuries or Fatalities from Drunk Driving

Motor vehicle accidents, specifically those caused by drunk driving, can and will have a life changing impact on an entire family. Alcohol-related accidents are more likely to result in serious injury and death. In fact, 37 percent of traffic fatalities involved alcohol as a contributing factor and of the 408 drivers who died from a traffic accident, 266 (two-thirds) had alcohol in their system.

In the event you or a loved one is involved in an accident with a drunk driver as a pedestrian, a fellow driver on the road, or a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation for the following costs: past medical expenses, future medical expenses, past wage loss, future loss of earnings, past pain suffering and disability, future pain suffering and disability, and punitive damages in some cases.

A repeat drunk driver may also be liable for ‘punitive damages’. Punitive damages are awarded not only to punish the drunk for his or her behavior, but also to deter other potential offenders from partaking in this type of behavior. Punitive damages are an important way that victims can send a message to drivers who risk the lives of others by getting behind the wheel after drinking too much alcohol.

Damages for personal injury, serious injury, and in the worst cases, death, may be won against an inebriated driver regardless of any criminal conviction the driver may or may not face.

Contact an Experienced Wisconsin Drinking and Driving Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident where the driver was intoxicated, contact one of our experienced Appleton drinking and driving attorneys or Green Bay drinking and driving attorneys at [[title]] today. With offices located in Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh, we are well versed in Wisconsin drinking and driving laws and can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.