A New York family had a rude awakening early Saturday morning as an alleged drunk driver is believed to have crashed into their house. No members of the family were injured as a result of the accident and the driver of the vehicle only suffered minor injuries, but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Witnesses say that the alleged drunk driver tried to make a run for it, but was restrained by nearby spectators.

The alleged drunk driver was initially charged with DWI, with more charges to follow. Accidents such as these are the worst fears of policymakers and law enforcement agencies alike. The biggest fear is that a drunk driver will cause mass destruction that leads to extensive property damage and even death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers cost the American taxpayer a hefty amount in property damages alone:

Alcohol is a factor in 26% of the United States crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost the public an estimated $114.3 billion in 2000, including $51.1 billion in monetary costs and an estimated $63.2 billion in quality of life losses. Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $71.6 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Monetary damages are only half of the story; the other half is filled with the sometimes immeasurable costs of the loss of human life. It was fortunate that nobody was hurt in this accident since a drunk driver crashing into a house is about as unpredictable as it gets. This defendant will surely have an uphill battle since District Attorneys are not as open to reducing charges when a major accident is involved.

If you have you been charged with a DWI involving an accident, you should certainly consult with an experienced DWI attorney as accidents add another complicated layer to the already difficult DWI process.

The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem. Corporate offices for Nave DWI Defense Attorneys are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.