I was recently seriously injured in a Tennessee motorcycle accident. I never should have gotten on behind the rider, who had been drinking, but I did. What can be done to stop people from drinking and riding?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has several suggestions for reducing the deaths caused by alcohol-related motorcycle accidents and other vehicle wrecks. They cite the following statistics to explain their position:

29% of all motorcyclists fatally injured in 2009 had a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading of 0.08 or higher.
The highest percentage of fatalities (over half) happens to motorcyclists over the age of 40; 44% are aged 40-44.
Any driver involved in a fatal crash with a BAC of 0.08% or higher was more likely – eight times more likely – to have previous convictions for driving while intoxicated.

For these reasons, the CDC urges these recommendations for cutting motorcycle alcohol-related deaths:

Enforce the existing laws for BAC, minimum age and zero tolerance in all states.
Revoke driver’s licenses for anyone convicted of driving while intoxicated.
Frequent use of sobriety checkpoints, which have been shown to reduce roadway fatalities by about 20%.
Promote healthy living at every level of society.
Control the use of alcohol through community-based approaches.
Demand mandatory substance abuse detection and treatment for all DWI offenders.
Lower the current BAC minimum from 0.80 to 0.50%.
Raise federal taxes on the sale of alcohol.
Mandate blood testing of all individuals in crashes that cause injury.

Tennessee motorcycle crashes result in both emotional and physical harm for everyone involved. If you need more information or advice, you should contact a Tennessee motorcycle accident legal expert to explore your options. Call Greer Injury Lawyers in Memphis toll free today at 888-470-9143 to request a free case consultation.