Berks County Among the Most Dangerous for DUIs in Pennsylvania

Fortunately, the number of impaired driving deaths appears to be on the decline in Pennsylvania over the past several years. However, there are still some areas of the state where driving under the influence remains a particular problem.

In a ranking based on deaths per 100,000 residents, Berks County ranks as the sixth-most dangerous county when it comes to DUI fatalities, behind Monroe, Butler, Dauphin, Centre and Luzerne counties. Berks County has 2.51 deaths per 100,000 residents, with a total of 31 fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers between 2015 and 2017. This is a fair distance from Monroe County’s 4.51 per 100,000, but is still a significant number.

It comes as no surprise that with this relatively high accident frequency, Reading is one of the most expensive cities in the state to purchase auto insurance.

Fatal DUI accidents have more serious consequences

A person who is convicted on DUI charges faces some serious penalties already, including fines and at least some jail time in many cases. But the addition of aggravating factors quickly elevates the seriousness of the consequences the offender faces. A DUI resulting in fatalities typically carries felony charges, with incarceration a likely penalty upon conviction.

If you have been arrested and charged with drunk driving or a related charge in Berks County, it’s important to know that you have constitutional rights. For further guidance on preparing a sound defense, work with the knowledgeable Reading DUI defense lawyer David R. Eshelman.