Drunk driving contributes to an unfortunate number of fatal crashes each year. Drivers who travel the roads while intoxicated put their lives at risk and the lives of others in the vehicle’s vicinity. Keeping control of a car while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is incredibly challenging, and laws exist to dissuade such behavior. However, some drivers may deal with substance abuse issues that lead them to drive even when unable to do so. Others may casually drink at a California bar or club and assume they are “okay” to drive, leading to collisions.
The dangers of drunk driving
Many drivers lose their lives in DUI crashes, and the same is often true for the victims. A motorist could walk away from a drunk driving crash with minor or no injuries, while other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists could lose their lives. In 2019 alone, 10,142 people died in drunk driving incidents, a tragic figure. What makes the figure even more terrible is the preventable nature of the collisions.
For California motorists to be legally drunk, their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be at least .08. Assuming that driving with a lower BAC level is automatically safe might be a regrettable belief. Even one drink might leave a person too impaired to drive.
Negligence and DUI incidents
An impaired driver may find alcohol or drugs make it harder to concentrate on the road. Drowsiness could affect concentration, and a driver might even pass out at the wheel. Remaining in a lane may become difficult, and dulled perceptions could lead to otherwise avoidable motor vehicle accidents.
For example, a driver may not realize a light turned red or even notice a car stopped at an intersection. An accident occurs when the drunk driver doesn’t stop.
Drunk driving is illegal, and any person who drives while under the influence might be found criminally guilty and civilly liable. When a drunk driver injures another person, the victim may need to sue to recover the potentially enormous losses. At The Law Office of Aman N. Shah, we are here to protect the rights of victims of car crashes, including crashes caused by drunk drivers.
