According to a recent article published in the April 1, 2019 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer, a recent study by a consumer research firm found fatal DUI rates in Pennsylvania’s rural counties, such as Centre, Monroe and Lackawanna Counties, are much higher than those in their urban counterparts.  The article noted the highest number of fatal DUIs occurred in Susquehanna County, Indiana County, Perry County and Tioga County.

 

At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie & Associates, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys has a history of representing victims who have suffered serious and fatal injuries as a result of DUIs throughout Pennsylvania, from Lancaster County to Centre County and from Philadelphia County to Pittsburgh. We have a proven history of holding drunk drivers and the bars and restaurants that illegally serve them accountable. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of a DUI, please call us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (844) 777-2529.   We practice throughout Pennsylvania, including in Central and Western Pennsylvania and, with offices in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and Philadelphia, we are always available to meet with you in person.

The Inquirer article noted several reasons why more people died as a result of DUIs in rural counties:

 

• Bars and Restaurants are Farther from Home: Most bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania’s rural counties are located downtown, far from farms and homes which may be miles away. This fact, combined with the decreased availability of taxis, public transportation and rideshare drivers (like Uber and Lyft) make it more likely patrons will drive their own cars to and from local bars and restaurants.
• Rural Roads are Darker and More Dangerous: Urban areas have the benefit of an abundance of lighting and many straight, centrally planned roads and highways. Rural areas tend to be much darker at night, and sometimes narrow roads tend to twist and turn through hills, mountains and unfamiliar areas. 
• Rural Drivers are Less Likely to Wear Seatbelts: The article noted at 2017 study by the Centers for Disease Control, which found 61.3% of rural drivers in fatal crashes were not wearing their seatbelts as opposed to only 44.4% of drivers in urban areas.

 

Like all car accident cases, if you or a loved one is a victim of a DUI, you can recover compensatory damages including medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and lost wages, from the drunk driver.  

 

You may also be able to recover punitive damages. Civil cases are normally intended to compensate the victim for his or her losses to get as close to “making the victim whole” as possible. However, punitive damages are a tool used by the civil system to punish the defendant for his or her actions and to send a message to others that similar conduct will not be tolerated. Under Pennsylvania law, punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s conduct is willful, wanton, reckless or malicious. These words are all legal terms used to describe conduct that society sees as outrageous and well beyond everyday negligence. Because the dangers of drunk driving are so well known, members of the public are often outraged when drunk drivers cause accidents and injury to others on the road, making large punitive damage awards possible.

 

Additionally, under Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Law, you may also have a claim against the bar, restaurant or other establishment where the driver had been drinking if the driver was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated. According to the Dram Shop Law, bars, restaurants and others licensed to serve alcohol are not allowed to serve a visibly intoxicated person. If they do, they can be held liable for any death, pain and suffering caused by the person they served after he or she leaves their establishment.

 

Again, if you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of a DUI, please call us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (844) 777-2529.   We practice throughout Pennsylvania, including in Central and Western Pennsylvania and, with offices in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and Philadelphia, we are always available to meet with you in person.