IMPACTS ON YOUR LIFE
Driving while intoxicated is a problem that affects many teens throughout the United States. When a teen, or anyone for that matter, decides to drive while intoxicated he/she is putting every life on the road at risk. Sure, it's true. Some people are actually able to make it home okay without any issues. BUT what if something does happen? How will it affect you? What will happen to you, your family and friends, or the victim and his/her family and friends?
IMPACTS ON YOU
The first and most important impact of DWI is causing others and yourself serious injuries and fatalities. A fatality caused by drinking and driving is considered manslaughter, which debts the criminal up to 15 years in prison(according to Florida law). 1
Drinking and driving under the age can result in a suspended driver's license, juvenile detention, prison, attorney fees and court costs and probation. With all of these offences on your record, finding a job, getting into college, and even taking out a loan will increase in difficulty ten-fold.
Speaking of acceptance into college, having a DWI on one's record will also result in the loss of eligibility for many scholarships, causing the cost of college - if you even get in - to be expensive.
IMPACTS ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS
The punishments of underage drinking and driving may differ from state to state. Although teens may be the recipients of the punishment, parents are also held responsible. In most cases, one punishment is paying off a hefty fine. If the teen responsible doesn't have a job, paying the fine is sometimes left up to the parents. Would you want to be responsible for your parents going broke because you needed to drink at your friend's party?
What will happen with your car insurance after a DWI and accident as a result? Well, one can expect his/her car insurance rates to skyrocket. In other cases, the insurance company may cancle your policy leaving you with no car insurance at all. And good luck trying to get decent car insurance rates under anothe company with a DWI on your record. 2
Drinking may cause one to withdraw from famliy and friends. Getting caught driving while inotoxicated can ruin your family and friend's trust and respect towards you aswell. Imagine having to wake up in the morning knowing your own mother thinks better of your family dog than you. Imagine going up to your friends in school and getting ignored because you paralyzed the nicest guy in school during a car accident you caused driving drunk.
IMPACTS ON THE VICTIM
Obviously fatality is one of the biggest impacts on the victim and victim's family. It can lead to depression amoung the victim's siblings, parents, and close relatives, and ultimately tear the family apart. Imagine waking up in the morning knowing you destroyed a once close and happy family.
Now what if the victim doesn't die, but gets seriously injured? Well, after you go to court for a DWI and drinking under the age, the victim has the opportunity to press charges, which they normally do. They can sue for numerous things including medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damage. Depending on how serious the accident was and how ambitious the victim is, you face the consequence of losing everything you own to a lawsuit. This may make the victim a quick fortune, however the victim still has to live with whatever disability your irresponsibility may have caused.