A woman who was caught driving the wrong way down an Albuquerque street may have been operating her vehicle under the influence of alcohol, according to police. The Albuquerque Journal reports that she had three children in her car at the time, and has been charged with child abuse.

Car crash, insurance concept

Driving while impaired is a dangerous practice that can put you, your passengers and other road users at risk. Children are especially vulnerable to serious injuries in the event of a crash.

More than 121,300 children under the age of 12 were injured in car accidents in 2014, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and at least 600 died in traffic wrecks.

If you or your children were injured in a collision with a drunk driver, contact an Albuquerque car accident lawyer from The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC for legal advice. With a combined 32 years in legal practice, our injury attorneys have the experience and resources to represent your interests. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free initial consultation.

5 Ways to Keep Your Children Safe in the Car

It is always important that drivers behave responsibly, but this is particularly true when children are in the vehicle. According to a study by Monash University, kids are 12 times more distracting to drivers than talking on a smartphone. The study tracked parents’ driving behavior and found that they took their eyes off the road for an average of more than three minutes in a 16-minute trip.

If you regularly drive with children, keep these five safety tips in mind:

  1. Make Sure They Buckle Up: 34 percent of children aged 12 and younger who died in car accidents in 2014 were not wearing seat belts;
  2. Do Not Let Kids Share Seat Belts: A seat belt will not function properly when two people are strapped in;
  3. Use an Appropriate Car Seat: Toddlers aged 1 to 4 years old are 54 percent less likely to die in motor-vehicle accidents if they are sitting in a car seat;
  4. Do Not Let Young Kids Sit in the Front Seat: Young kids are not strong enough to withstand the force of an airbag, so they should sit in the back seat; and
  5. Never Tolerate Distracting Behavior: You can easily become distracted by children who are moving around or shouting in the car.

Unfortunately, even the safest drivers cannot control the actions of other motorists. If you or your child was injured by a drunk, distracted or negligent driver, contact The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC.

A New Mexico car accident attorney will help you claim compensation for medical bills, lost income and non-economic damages. Our legal team will also help you avoid mistakes such as accepting a low settlement, making recorded statements to the insurance company, or signing a general release. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free initial consultation.