Lafayette Parish has been among the top three parishes in Louisiana for alcohol-related crashes, and was one of 10 pilot parishes to receive money from the state Department of Health and Hospitals to reduce such accidents.
In 2009, The Knowledge Effect (previously the Lafayette Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse), a coalition to fight drunk driving, received a $1.3 million dollar grant to increase DWI patrols and boost the number of DWI arrests in Lafayette Parish.
According to a report issued by the coalition, the drunk driving arrests in Lafayette has risen from 211 in 2007 to 1,144 in 2011, and a decrease in alcohol-related fatal wrecks in Lafayette Parish from 24 in 2007 and 2008 to 16 in 2009 and 11 in 2010.
Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft wrote that “the program’s all-inclusive approach to every aspect of alcohol use has been very effective and contributed to the decreased number of deaths from alcohol- related accidents in Lafayette.”
In an effort to punish drunk and/or drugged drivers and deter others from driving while intoxicated, Louisiana law (La. C.C. Art. 2315.4) provides for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, lost enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. Broussard, David & Moroux has been lead counsel in several of the highest punitive damage jury awards cases in the state of Louisiana.
If you or someone you know has been injured by an intoxicated motorist, you may be entitled to recovery. The attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux may be able to help. For questions, contact Broussard, David & Moroux at 888-337-2323 (toll free) or 337-233-2323 (local).