Since 2002, the overall numbers of deaths due to DUI have gone down but most of America still reels under the threat of alcohol related life loss. The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility has revealed reports that detail that more than 10,000 deaths were caused in 2012 by drunken driving. In some states, the problem is much worse than elsewhere in America.

It could be attributed to a lot of causes, but one of the important highlights of the research is that in most of these states which had the highest DUI cases underage drinking and driving was also a serious problem. Here is a list of the 8 states which fare the worst in this report and the DUI statistics from each:

1. North Dakota

This snowy town had the most number of DUI deaths per 100,000 residents in 2012 in the entire US. At 10.3 deaths per 100,000 North Dakota rises to the top spot on the list. Drunk driving accident lawyers in the state also see a huge underage clientele with over 32% of the population indulging in underage drinking.

Not a good situation.

2. Montana

The per capita alcohol consumption in Montana beats all but two states on the list. In Montana, 29.7% of minors indulge in binge drinking and the average amount drunk is 41 gallons of beer per year.

3. South Carolina

In 2012, South Carolina saw 360 DUI deaths and 17,906 DUI arrests. For every 100,000 residents in the state there are 2.8 underage deaths every year. This is the sixth highest death tally in the US.

4. Wyoming

Nearly 21% of the under-21 population in Wyoming indulges in drinking; many of them binge drinkers. At 6.9 deaths per 100,000, the state sees a large percentage of its college students at the University of Wyoming involved in law breaking activities.

5. Mississippi

Between 2002 and 2012, drunken driving deaths in Mississippi fell by 38% – most than any other state in the list. Law enforcement agencies in Mississippi are doing a great job at curtailing accidents but with 23 deaths in 2012 and 10,000 DUI arrests the state still has some way to go.

6. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has shown progress in curbing underage drinking, but the number of DUI deaths and accidents caused by legal age drivers saw only a 5.3% decrease in the decade from 2002-12. The state drunk driving accident lawyers can take recourse to its ‘aggravated DUI’ law but it doesn’t seem to be having much effect yet.

White men need to slow down a little.

7. Alabama

The state has the fifth lowest percentage of underage drinkers, but many drunk driving accident lawyers in the state are still working with 21 year old minors. With just 286 DUI arrests in 2012, Alabama takes the cake for the least number of drunken arrests, but there is still scope for improvement.

8. South Dakota

South Dakota’s residents drank the fourth highest amount of beer in 2012 (39 gallons) and the state has the seventh highest drunk driving deaths at 5.3 per 100,000. Even with its strict laws, South Dakota has not been able to do much to curb its DUI penalties yet.

A DUI is a criminal offense where the DMV or Department of Motor Vehicles maintains records of individuals with details about an offender’s arrest, detention, trial, conviction, and sentence, which is stored electronically by the DMV for several years after conviction. Current and prospective employers, military establishments, universities, and even licensing agencies can access these records anytime.

A DUI Case Plan

DUI attorneys have extensive knowledge of DUI laws. Due to their stringent nature, DUI attorneys have extensive knowledge of DUI laws. Due to their stringent nature, a DUI defense is a specialized area where the attorneys are familiar with the intricacies involved in DUI offenses. They are well versed in various aspects related to this type of offense, which includes blood tests, drug recognition evaluation, breath tests, and other issues to be able to represent their clients. Some also have associates (investigators, chemists) that work directly with them, depending on the nature of the DUI offense.