Pittsburgh residents might feel a little safer as they drive out to barbecues and cookouts around the Fourth of July. The Pennsylvania DUI Association has teamed up with state and local law enforcement officials to step up vigilance towards suspected drunk-drivers around Independence Day.

Each year, suspected drunk drivers injure almost one million people across the country. The DUI Association estimates there were 416 alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania in 2010, which resulted in 29 deaths. That is an increase from 2009, which saw 17 alcohol-related deaths.

Holidays can be an especially dangerous time on the roads because people often have one drink (or more) too many when they are celebrating with their friends and family. Pennsylvania law enforcement officials began the period of increased enforcement June 19. It will continue until July 4.

Being injured in a car accident is overwhelming in any circumstance, but it can be especially devastating when the injury was caused by a drunk driver. In that case, the injured person knows his or her harm was not an unavoidable accident, but instead was caused by someone who was behaving irresponsibly and demonstrating no regard for other people.

Luckily, if they are hurt by a drunk driver, Pennsylvania residents may be able to recover for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other accident-related expenses. It would be better if people would not drive drunk in the first place, but until that can be achieved, an experienced attorney who has worked with people injured by drunk drivers may be able to help you make sense of your situation and develop a clearer picture of your options.

Source: WTAJ-TV, "Fourth of July DUI Enforcement In Effect," Jody Gill, 17 June 2011.