Car accidents that involve alcohol-impaired driving are a big problem. An average of 233 billion auto trips are taken each year. Of that number, MADD states that about one out of every two thousand trips are taken by a driver under the influence of alcohol. One in every three traffic deaths involve drunk driving. That’s how big a problem drunk driving is!
Check out these statistics:
- Every day almost 30 people in the U.S. die because of alcohol-impaired driver accidents
- That number breaks down to the equivalent of one death every 51 minutes
It’s evident that drinking and driving poses a threat to each and every one of us. It’s a proven fact that alcohol decreases a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. The more you drink the less ability you have to function properly, let alone drive.
Your alcohol tolerance can vary depending on:
- How quickly you drink
- Your weight
- How much food is in your stomach
Blood Alcohol Level
Florida’s legal limit of blood alcohol concentration is .08. To help you understand what that level “looks like”, consider this:
When your blood alcohol level is .02, you will experience a sense of relaxation and some loss of judgment. At the .05 level, some muscle loss can occur (such as eye focusing) as well as lowered alertness and impaired judgment. When the blood alcohol level reaches .08, the effects become even more dramatic. For instance, muscle coordination becomes really poor, and judgment, reasoning, and memory are all impaired. At .10, reaction time is dramatically slowed and one will experience slurred speech, slowed thinking and poor coordination.
Car Accidents
If you are involved in a car accident caused by someone you feel was impaired, the first step is to prove they were impaired. Let the attending police officer(s) know that you feel the other driver was driving while intoxicated. Then, seek medical attention for yourself and consult a personal injury attorney with experience in helping DUI victims.
Please note that it’s important that you seek medical attention right away, not only for your own safety, but also to satisfy new insurance requirements for example, if you are not seen by a medical professional within 14 days of an accident, your medical treatment will not be paid by your PIP/No Fault Insurance.
Safety Steps To Take
Be safe. Do your part to help decrease incidents of drunk driving. If you know you are going out and plan to have a drink, make plans to:
- Designate a non-drinking driver, if you are going out in a group.
- Don’t let anyone drive if they’ve been drinking. Take away their keys and offer a ride or call a taxi.
- If you’ve been drinking, call a taxi or ask a friend for a ride home.
- When hosting a party, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
Stay safe, stay alert and join the fight against drunk driving!
Call Carey Leisure Carney for Legal Services in Clearwater, FL
Contact us at (727) 799-3900 for a free no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.