Heightened BAC levels impair drivers and cause auto accidents

2022-01-03T19:18:07+00:00By |

On behalf of Easton & Easton, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, August 6, 2015.

Many people know that drinking and driving is not a good mix. They understand that it is against the law to have a few too many drinks and then get behind the wheel of a car. However, many drivers in Orange County probably don’t really understand the physiological effects of drinking. It is these effects that can make it so dangerous to drive after having just a few alcoholic beverages.

A person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of the alcohol in the volume of the person’s blood. In California and every other state, a BAC level of 0.08% is the legal limit for driving. In other words, if a person’s BAC is 0.08% or higher, the person is intoxicated and cannot legally drive. But, a person can still be impaired, and thus should not be driving, even if his or her BAC is less than 0.08%.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, at a BAC of just 0.02%, a person can experience a relaxation, loss of judgment, and an altered mood. This can result in the person not being able to do two things at once, and the person may also experience a loss in visual functions. Both of these are problematic when it comes to operating a motor vehicle.

At 0.05% BAC, the alcohol can affect drivers by reducing their coordination and their ability to spot moving objects. Moreover, at this BAC level, the alcohol may cause a person to have difficulty steering and be unable to properly respond to emergency driving situations. At the legal BAC limit of 0.08%, a person may have poor muscle coordination, poor judgment and be less able to detect danger. These physiological effects can relate to a lack of concentration behind the wheel, poor speed control of the vehicle, impaired perception and other problems.

Drinking and driving is a form of negligence that leads to far too many auto accidents in Orange County and everywhere else in the country. Even what seems to be a relatively small amount of alcohol can impair a person’s ability to drive, which can cause a fatal car accident if her or she chooses to get behind the wheel. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one or suffered injuries at the hands of a drunk driver knows that drinking and driving are never a good combination.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC),” Accessed on July 30, 2015

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Doug Easton has practiced law since 1971. After 20 years of practicing with various large litigation firms, he founded the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton in 1991 as a solo practitioner. In the years that followed, Doug’s sons Brian and Matt joined him in the practice and helped build the firm into a powerful force to help right the wrongs done to their clients. Much of their success over the years has stemmed from the dynamic created by the familial nature of the firm and how harmoniously they all work together, each of their individual strengths complementing and fortifying the group as a whole. Accordingly, the firm changed its name to Easton & Easton, LLP in 2014 to better reflect the true dynamic of the firm and Doug now serves as Managing Partner of Easton & Easton.In 2015, Doug was selected as a Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in California by The American Society of Legal Advocates. In addition, Doug is listed in Strathmore’s Who’s Who, and in 2008 was named its “Professional of the Year” in Medical Malpractice.
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