I was hit by a drunk driver last night...

[Spievy]

is that someone who goes drunk driving is less likely to see real punishment because of their crimes than someone who gets caught smoking marijuana in their own home.

Not defending either practice, but I have noticed in my travels around the globe that the United States can have some really backwards priorities sometimes.

I agree, I think a lot of it is because the states set the punishment. Some states have 3 strike your out policy and some are just citations. It should be Mandatory jail time and HUGE fines.

my 2 cents

 

[pachyderm]

Even if you feel a tiny bit of guilt, you still acted in your best interest. It will be immensely helpful to your case that her drunkenness is legally documented. And of course if she's under 18 it will disappear from her record soon.

shouldn't be any guilty feelings on karstan's part. they were the victim!

the drunk driver should feel guilty and be punished.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

As much as I hate to say this. Higher a Lawyer and sue. The insurance company is going cover it ass and of course the girl is. Get a lawyer and sue

 

[SkyBell]

About two or three years ago, I was in a crash with a drunk driver. By that I mean the driver of the car I was in was drunk. I don't particularly like to talk about it, as I feel extremely guilty for allowing said person to drive, because the car we hit was a family of four, and the three year old son died in the accident. I had a broken rib, our driver got a concussion, and one of my friends broke her wrist, but all of us would have gone through much worse if we hadn't been wearing seat belts.

It haunts me to this day, I know I shouldn't have let that person drive, he was underage and driving way too fast. Every day I think about that little boy that died, all because we had gone out for a party, and were too stupid to realize we shouldn't be driving.

I don't get in a car with anyone who has had any kind of alcohol, I can't go through that again. That boy didn't deserve to die, he was just beginning in life.

So don't drink and drive, it's harmful not only to yourself, but to the other people on the road.

 

[pachyderm]

As much as I hate to say this. Higher a Lawyer and sue. The insurance company is going cover it ass and of course the girl is. Get a lawyer and sue

of course.

 

[Abstract]

I've never been the victim of one, I shudder to think what I'd do if some drunk totalled my car, I'd pretty much beat them silly to be honest. No one has the right to put my life at risk or damage my property...etc.

After reading some of the stories in this thread, I think I'd go nuts and do the same thing.


I have never known anyone who died, or was hit by a drunk driver. Not one single person, or even a friend's friend.

Actually, there was one guy in high school who was street racing and died. He went through his moonroof. Alcohol may have been involved, but I don't know. People felt so bad because of his death. I wasn't. I was actually a tiny bit glad. I mean, on a scale from 1 (sad) to 10 (happy), I was probably a 5.5, meaning I didn't really have any serious feelings about it, and yet I was probably more happy than sad. Am I completely out of line? He was always a complete ass, so if he's going to do something stupid, I'm glad he was the one who got hurt. He killed himself while doing something stupid, which is fitting.

 

[yg17]

Actually, there was one guy in high school who was street racing and died. He went through his moonroof. Alcohol may have been involved, but I don't know. People felt so bad because of his death. I wasn't. I was actually a tiny bit glad. I mean, on a scale from 1 (sad) to 10 (happy), I was probably a 5.5, meaning I didn't really have any serious feelings about it, and yet I was probably more happy than sad. Am I completely out of line? He was always a complete ass, so if he's going to do something stupid, I'm glad he was the one who got hurt. He killed himself while doing something stupid, which is fitting.

I'm with you. I have a hard time finding sympathy for people who die while doing something stupid, and I'm glad that they were killed rather than an innocent person. I don't know anyone who has died from a car wreck, but on a car forum I used to frequent, one of the members died while street racing and for awhile everyone was upset and mourning and all that. And the entire time, I'm just thinking that he's a dumbass, and I'm glad it was him who died instead of an innocent bystander. I know it probably makes me sound like an *******......

 

[Stampyhead]

About a year ago, I was in a crash with a drunk driver. By that I mean the driver of the car I was in was drunk. I don't particularly like to talk about it, as I feel extremely guilty for allowing said person to drive, because the car we hit was a family of four, and the three year old son died in the accident. I had a broken rib, our driver got a concussion, and one of my friends broke her wrist, but all of us would have gone through much worse if we hadn't been wearing seat belts.

It haunts me to this day, I know I shouldn't have let that person drive, he was underage and driving way too fast. Every day I think about that little boy that died, all because we had gone out for a party, and were too stupid to realize we shouldn't be driving.

I don't get in a car with anyone who has had any kind of alcohol, I can't go through that again. That boy didn't deserve to die, he was just beginning in life.

So don't drink and drive, it's harmful not only to yourself, but to the other people on the road.

Cassie, that's a very sad story. I feel for you having to live with the loss of that little boy, but at the same time I'm glad you were able to learn at an early age how dangerous drunk driving can be.

 

[RaceTripper]

People who street race should be killed. When they remove themselves from the gene pool, all the better if they can do it without hurting others.

Ditto for people who drive drunk.

 

[njmac]

About a year ago, I was in a crash with a drunk driver. By that I mean the driver of the car I was in was drunk. I don't particularly like to talk about it, as I feel extremely guilty for allowing said person to drive, because the car we hit was a family of four, and the three year old son died in the accident. I had a broken rib, our driver got a concussion, and one of my friends broke her wrist, but all of us would have gone through much worse if we hadn't been wearing seat belts.

It haunts me to this day, I know I shouldn't have let that person drive, he was underage and driving way too fast. Every day I think about that little boy that died, all because we had gone out for a party, and were too stupid to realize we shouldn't be driving.

I don't get in a car with anyone who has had any kind of alcohol, I can't go through that again. That boy didn't deserve to die, he was just beginning in life.

So don't drink and drive, it's harmful not only to yourself, but to the other people on the road.

That is just ridiculously sad. Wait until you have a little kid of your own and I bet you will feel even more guilty.

My brother was killed by a drunk driver, a ****ing ******* who thought partying was such fun. Just because you're young doesn't mean you have to be stupid

 

[Lord Blackadder]

My dad was nearly killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and run a few years before I was born.

Most state DUI/DWI laws are pretty flawed, but I do like one thing they do in my home state of Ohio - a DUI conviction means you get high-vis yellow license plates so everyone can see how much of a dumb-ass you are.

 

[njmac]

My dad was nearly killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and run a few years before I was born.

Most state DUI/DWI laws are pretty flawed, but I do like one thing they do in my home state of Ohio - a DUI conviction means you get high-vis yellow license plates so everyone can see how much of a dumb-ass you are.

That is a great idea! Every state should do that.

 

[ZachsMacDaddy]

I have been the victim of 2 different drunk drivers.

The first time was back in the 80's when I was in the back seat of our family car out for some Christmas shopping. A monseniur (sp?) who had been at a firehouse Christmas party decided to drive home drunk in his LTD. The roads were getting slippery from the freezing rain. He ran a red light and we slammed into the right rear corner of his LTD. Our brand new Nissan Sentra was totalled, my mom's kneecap was shattered, my father who ignorantly was not wearing a seat belt was slammed into the window. I too was stupid and not wearing my seat belt, but luckily when I saw what was about to happen I rolled down to the floor where all the heavy winter coats were.

Fast forward to 1991 when I was a senior in high school. I was headed home late one Friday night and I stopped at a red light. To my right was the security guard booth for the Navy base. To my left was a MD state trooper. As the light changed to green I didn't have time to even touch the gas when I was slammed from behind. My VW rabbit was totaled and I had to practically kick my way out since the bent body had wedged the doors closed. To this day I still have shoulder pain if I try to play ball. I cannot throw hard or my shoulder throbs.

The kicker was that the moron who hit me was on a suspended license and it was his SIXTH (6!!!!) DUI with his 5th coming just 1 week prior. I sued his wife's insurance because he was driving her car home from a dingy little bar just off base. I barely settled for enough to buy another old used Rabbit. I should have had a better lawyer.

I think drunk drivers should be charged much differently than they are. When you load a gun and shoot someone, you know the likelihood that you can kill them. When you get drunk and then get behind the wheel, you know that you can kill someone. With all the information out there in commercials and literature, you have to be a complete idiot to not know the chances. So, hit a person while drunk and they live, attempted homicide. Hit them and kill them, homicide, 1st or 2nd degree. Sentences identical to shooting someone with a gun or stabbing them.

I have no respect for drunk drivers. They are a waste of a life. I have worked with people who have had DUIs and feel they were victims of the system or bragged about it as if it were a cool thing. I want to just walk up to them and smack them upside the head with something hard. Of course, if I did I would likely get a stiffer sentence than some drunk moron who plowed his car through a crowd of children on a playground.

Forgive me for ranting. This is an issue that gets my blood boiling.

 

[Karstan]

My dad was nearly killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and run a few years before I was born.

Most state DUI/DWI laws are pretty flawed, but I do like one thing they do in my home state of Ohio - a DUI conviction means you get high-vis yellow license plates so everyone can see how much of a dumb-ass you are.

that's it...I'm moving to Ohio! At least I can see them coming up from behind me better...yellow plates= gas it quick!

 

[LumbermanSVO]

A housemate of mine drove home drunk one night. He totaled his car in front of our house. He sheared off TWO telephone poles at the ground. He had minor cuts from glass and the hospital spent several hours pulling glass from his eyes, other than that he walked away.

His girlfriend was another matter. They had to use the jaws of life to get her out of the car. She had lots of bruising all over her body and now has 5 pins in her right leg. She got $150k and promptly blew it all.

My friend ended up spending $20k on fines, court costs and his lawyer, he was charged with vehicular assault. He lost his license for a year, spent a month behind bars and another year on work release. He also lost his job of 5 years. He stayed with his girlfriend long enough for the statute of limitations to run out on her filing a personal suit against him, then booked.

He is now paranoid about drinking and driving.

 

[Karstan]

He stayed with his girlfriend long enough for the statute of limitations to run out on her filing a personal suit against him, then booked.

seriously? ok, that was an a**hole move.

 

[ZachsMacDaddy]

He stayed with his girlfriend long enough for the statute of limitations to run out on her filing a personal suit against him, then booked.

seriously? ok, that was an a**hole move.

Yeah, who would have expected a slimeball move from someone as upstanding as a drunk driver?

 

[Karstan]

Yeah, who would have expected a slimeball move from someone as upstanding as a drunk driver?

yeah yeah yeah...i know... i just feel bad for the girl

 

[PACMAC]

i got hit by a drunk driver like 3 years ago .form behind ..when i woke up from the car i knew right alway something told me instantly it was a drunk driver..i walk out the car and didnt even went to look at the drunk driver if he was ok because why should i when he almost killed us.next thing we know me and my girlfriend are wait for a ride home from a friend just thinking of what the hell just happen first we were in a car then were sitting on the curb wait for a ride..then when we got home we had SEX for the first time since we were going out..but the next day i was sore like hell not from SEX just pain from the impact didnt feel it because we were in shock..but that was the worse best day...now i live like there no tomorrow i do everything i can in a day and not think of tomorrow...live life happy and not take crap from anyone..

HATE DRUNK DRIVER

 

[letsgorangers]

About a year ago, I was in a crash with a drunk driver. By that I mean the driver of the car I was in was drunk. I don't particularly like to talk about it, as I feel extremely guilty for allowing said person to drive, because the car we hit was a family of four, and the three year old son died in the accident. I had a broken rib, our driver got a concussion, and one of my friends broke her wrist, but all of us would have gone through much worse if we hadn't been wearing seat belts.

It haunts me to this day, I know I shouldn't have let that person drive, he was underage and driving way too fast. Every day I think about that little boy that died, all because we had gone out for a party, and were too stupid to realize we shouldn't be driving.

I don't get in a car with anyone who has had any kind of alcohol, I can't go through that again. That boy didn't deserve to die, he was just beginning in life.

So don't drink and drive, it's harmful not only to yourself, but to the other people on the road.

While I do find the actions and choices that occurred that evening reprehensible, it took so much guts to come on here and tell this story. For that, I applaud you. My thoughts are with you as you continue to come to terms with this and start to heal.

I have no tolerance for drunk drivers. I agree with others here that the rules aren't strict enough. My condolences to all who have lost loved ones to a drunk driver.

 

[pachyderm]

I have been the victim of 2 different drunk drivers.

The first time was back in the 80's when I was in the back seat of our family car out for some Christmas shopping. A monseniur (sp?) who had been at a firehouse Christmas party decided to drive home drunk in his LTD. The roads were getting slippery from the freezing rain. He ran a red light and we slammed into the right rear corner of his LTD. Our brand new Nissan Sentra was totalled, my mom's kneecap was shattered, my father who ignorantly was not wearing a seat belt was slammed into the window. I too was stupid and not wearing my seat belt, but luckily when I saw what was about to happen I rolled down to the floor where all the heavy winter coats were.

Fast forward to 1991 when I was a senior in high school. I was headed home late one Friday night and I stopped at a red light. To my right was the security guard booth for the Navy base. To my left was a MD state trooper. As the light changed to green I didn't have time to even touch the gas when I was slammed from behind. My VW rabbit was totaled and I had to practically kick my way out since the bent body had wedged the doors closed. To this day I still have shoulder pain if I try to play ball. I cannot throw hard or my shoulder throbs.

The kicker was that the moron who hit me was on a suspended license and it was his SIXTH (6!!!!) DUI with his 5th coming just 1 week prior. I sued his wife's insurance because he was driving her car home from a dingy little bar just off base. I barely settled for enough to buy another old used Rabbit. I should have had a better lawyer.

I think drunk drivers should be charged much differently than they are. When you load a gun and shoot someone, you know the likelihood that you can kill them. When you get drunk and then get behind the wheel, you know that you can kill someone. With all the information out there in commercials and literature, you have to be a complete idiot to not know the chances. So, hit a person while drunk and they live, attempted homicide. Hit them and kill them, homicide, 1st or 2nd degree. Sentences identical to shooting someone with a gun or stabbing them.

I have no respect for drunk drivers. They are a waste of a life. I have worked with people who have had DUIs and feel they were victims of the system or bragged about it as if it were a cool thing. I want to just walk up to them and smack them upside the head with something hard. Of course, if I did I would likely get a stiffer sentence than some drunk moron who plowed his car through a crowd of children on a playground.

Forgive me for ranting. This is an issue that gets my blood boiling.

preach on brother!