Drunk drivers take your life for granted

 Posted on May 19, 2020 in Uncategorized

Perhaps one of the most frightening things to realize when you are on the road is that someone in another vehicle may have been drinking before getting behind the wheel. When you travel, alone or with your family, you may take every precaution to keep safe. Nevertheless, there may be others on the road who are not thinking of your safety, and these drivers pose a deadly risk.

Even a single alcoholic drink can impair someone's ability to react appropriately while driving. This can include reacting to basic cues, such as stop signs or the presence of another vehicle in his or her path. Someone who has been drinking freely may create a situation that places you and your loved ones in harm's way.

Why is drinking and driving so bad?

Nearly 30 people die in drunk driving accidents across the country each day. A driver who has consumed enough alcohol to have a .08 blood alcohol concentration, which is the legal limit in Texas, may have impairments that prevent him or her from controlling the vehicle and avoiding a collision, such as:

• Impaired concentration, which may cause a driver to drift across lanes or fail to recognize the importance of traffic signals
• Slowed reaction time and reduced coordination, which can prevent a driver from braking or turning the vehicle in time to avoid an accident
• Impaired vision, including blurriness, inability to control eye movements and loss of depth perception
• Inhibited judgment, including the ability to determine when a situation is dangerous and the ability to make quick decisions

Any of these may prevent a driver from controlling the speed or direction of the vehicle. If you should have the misfortune to be in the path of a drunk driver, you may suffer serious injuries. Your passengers also may not escape harm. In addition to the pain and other burdens such an accident may cause you, it is likely that you will struggle with a sense of unfairness. After all, you took every precaution, and someone else's negligence resulted in pain and suffering for you and your family.

Many who are dealing with these issues find peace of mind and relief from their financial burdens by seeking compensation through the civil courts. Taking such actions not only offers you the chance for a sense of justice and closure, but it may also send a strong message to others who may be tempted to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.