Nobody starts their night-out saying “I hope I hurt or kill somebody tonight in a drunk driving accident.” But if you or somebody you care about is choosing to drink and drive, these are the real consequences waiting on the other side of that decision. Unfortunately, I’ve seen the devastating impact these consequences have had on our clients who have suffered personal injury, or the wrongful death of a loved one, at the hands of a drunk driver.
Thankfully, many organizations are trying to do something about this epidemic. The City of Overland Park, Kansas is taking one such step by having the Overland Park Police Department conduct a DUI Saturation Patrol on Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 10pm – 2am. #dontdrinkanddrive
In the recent past, organizations like The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, MoDOT’s Traffic and Highway Safety Division, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and law enforcement from Missouri and Kansas have initiated programs like “Operation Impact” and “Choose Your Ride.” Through these programs, these organizations illustrate the choices and consequences of drinking and driving to local students and residents through additional patrol cars, sobriety checkpoint vehicles, taxi cabs, and . . . a hearse on display. They also choose the timing of their events to coincide with spring break for many universities and colleges, and when St. Patrick’s Day events and basketball tournaments are under way thus putting celebrating foremost on the minds of young drivers.
One small way the attorneys and staff at Morefield Speicher Bachman have chosen to help is by supporting Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD) by participating in their “Walk Like MAAD” event on June 11, 2016. Our goal is to raise $2,500 to go toward mission critical funds to put an end to the 100 percent preventable crime of drunk driving. In addition to raising funds, Walk Like MADD also provides an outlet for those impacted by a drunk driving accident to channel their grief into hope and healing, and provides communities the chance to surround and support those hurting by taking action to prevent others from suffering because of drunk driving.
If, like us, you want to take at least one small step to help stop this problem, you can start by:
- Making a donation now and help us reach our fundraising goal
- Walking alongside us and taking steps to stop this violent crime, or
- Spreading the word about Walk Like MADD using the hashtag #DrunkDrivingEndsHere.
We hope you’ll join our efforts to put an end to drunk and impaired driving.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) was founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. MADD is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving, drugged driving, and underage drinking. MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local MADD victim advocates and its 24-Hour Victim Helpline 1-877-MADD-HELP.