It’s graduation season again in Richmond! With our community’s High School students having so much to celebrate, the next few weeks also come with safety reminders among the celebrations. A teenager’s brain is still developing, and it is very sensitive to alcohol’s effects on judgment and decision-making. Tragedies can happen, so underage drinking should not be a part of any end-of-year celebration.
Drinking and driving, and binge drinking are both dangerous practices that are more frequent this time of year. It is shown that underage drinkers are less able to judge the amount of alcohol that they have consumed, which puts not only themselves, but other drivers at risk.
The highest rates of DUI’s and drivers fatally injured in an accident occur in the age range of 16-25, making the risk of alcohol related incidents twice as high for this age group. The results of these incidents cause more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year. In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits of students under the age of 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.
At Reid Goodwin we would like to remind you to talk to your children about the dangers of alcohol during this time of celebration. The best resources can be found through MADD and SADD, two organizations founded for the safety and education of our students.
If you ever find yourself or a family member injured by an intoxicated driver, please contact one of our experienced attorneys to assist you.