Thirty-four-year-old Ryan Dunn, one of the stars of the MTV reality show, "Jackass," was killed when his speeding Porsche flew over a guardrail in Pennsylvania and ended up in flames at the bottom of a ravine.
Dunn was the performer of many outrageous antics and dangerous pranks on the show and movies carrying the "Jackass" name, but none quite as deadly as travelling 140 mph with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.196 (more than two times the legal limit).
Zachary Hartwell, four years younger than Dunn, also died in the crash.
The fact that Dunn was engaging in two dangerous behaviours, speeding and driving drunk, makes his untimely death both tragic and likely preventable.
Dangers of Speeding
The chance that a driver will be involved in a motor vehicle accident increases with the speed of the vehicle. Additionally, the faster the speed of the vehicle, the greater the impact on a person's body during a crash. Thus, speeding not only increases the chance of an accident, but likely also increase the severity of injuries sustained.
Dangers of Alcohol Impairment
Inebriated drivers also have a much higher risk for auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 10,839 people died in drunk driving accidents where drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least .08, down slightly from the 11,773 fatalities the previous year. In every state in the United States, a BAC of .08 establishes evidence of alcohol impairment. One in every three people will experience an alcohol-related crash during their life.
If you have been the victim in an accident involving speeding or drunk driving, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to determine if you are entitled to compensation. A lawyer can evaluate your claim and advocate on your behalf to help ensure your rights are protected.
