Drunk Driving Accidents

Harris Law Firm handles accident cases involving drunk drivers daily. Don’t let a drunk driver get away with injuring you. You deserve compensation for injuries caused by a person negligent of their actions, and our attorneys can help! Contact Harris Law Firm today at 540 371-4941 and speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.

For decades now, millions of people whose lives have been changed forever by drunk drivers have been pressing their state governments to finally take more forceful action against those still stupid enough to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2004, major strides were taken toward this most important end. Here are just a few of the many steps 2004 brought to make our roads a little safer from the death and carnage that drunk driving invariably brings:

• All 50 states have now lowered their legal definition of intoxication from .10 to .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Delaware and Minnesota, the only two states that still maintained the .10 standard, changed their laws in July after the federal government threatened to cut funding for interstate highways in those states unless they complied.
• Many states now preclude drunk drivers from collecting on insurance claims for property damage or injuries to themselves if they exceed the .08 BAC standard, and if their driving actions are found to be more than 25 percent of the negligence that caused the accident.
• Major breweries, such as Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing Company, are now facing lawsuits for their marketing and advertising practices, which plaintiffs claim encourages underage drinking among teenagers, the segment of the population where drunk driving is still on the rise.
• In Virginia, new laws to punish repeat offenders and those who have been drinking far above the legal limit are now in place. Some of the major laws include:
  • Mandatory fine of at least $250 for 1st DUI.
  • Mandatory fine of at least $500 for 2nd DUI in 5 years.
  • Mandatory fine of at least $1,000 for 3rd DUI in 5 years.
  • Mandatory 5 day in jail if Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is .15 or higher.
  • Mandatory 10 days in jail if Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is .20 or higher.
  • Mandatory 20 days in jail for 2nd DUI in 5 years.
  • Mandatory 6 months in jail for 3rd DUI in 5 years.
  • Your car can be permanently taken from you by the state on your 3rd DUI.