A motor vehicle accident can happen at any time and any place, and under a variety of circumstances. To reduce your chances of getting hurt, you undoubtedly adhere to California traffic laws and stay sober and alert when out on the road.
Unfortunately, other drivers don’t always make such sound decisions, and drunk driving continues to be one of the most common causes of serious and fatal accidents.
How intoxication affects one’s ability to drive
Driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous, and accidents involving this form of negligence are often disastrous. Intoxication can affect a person’s ability to safely operate a vehicle in a multitude of ways, such as:
- Vision: Intoxication can have a substantial impact on a driver’s vision, potentially making it more difficult to track moving objects, such as other vehicles, which can put everyone nearby at risk.
- Response time: Drunk drivers operate vehicles with reduced coordination, and they inherently have more trouble reacting or responding to a variety of driving scenarios.
- Awareness: Intoxication also creates problems with awareness, and those who operate a vehicle while intoxicated are less capable of properly using lanes and maintaining the correct speed.
- Concentration: Impaired drivers may find it significantly more challenging to concentrate on the task at hand, and they may be easily distracted or exhibit a general lack of focus, which could in turn place you and others nearby in harm’s way.
While knowing how to spot a possible drunk driver could help you avoid a crash, in some cases, you may have little to no time to react and avoid a collision. If you suffer serious injuries in the accident, you have a right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and other costs resulting from the accident.
Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to learn more about your options.
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