What are the Hazards of Drunk Driving?
We have all heard the phrase “Don’t drink and drive”, and most of us have that ingrained in our
minds and make a conscious effort never to drive if we have been drinking. Whether you have a
designated driver who is sober, or if you walk home, or if you call a cab or ride-sharing driver, there
are plenty of options that allow you to get home safely. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the law
and takes this phrase seriously, resulting in reckless driving, property damage, car accidents, and even
in some cases fatalities. At Lloyd Thomas Law, we are personal injury attorneys who often work
with clients to help them recover damages from drunk driving accidents.
The Dangers of Driving While Drunk
According to the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration), about 28
people die every single day in the United States due to drunk-driving crashes, which equates to one
every 52 minutes. But why does being drunk affect your driving ability so much? Alcohol impairs
your brain’s ability to function the more you consume, which is why there is a legal limit in place.
Alcohol can make us use poor judgment and decision making in any circumstance, so while behind
the wheel of a car or other vehicle, it is a dangerous time to use poor judgment. When driving, you
are making a constant series of small decisions: speed, depth, switching lanes, when to stop. You
need to be able to safely make all of these small decisions. Alcohol can also slow our reaction times
and decrease our coordination, both of which are paramount to safe driving. Alcohol can also
worsen our vision, making it dangerous to operate a vehicle since you may not properly see obstacles
in your vehicle’s path. Many of these same hazards can apply to drugs and other intoxicants as well.
According to the CDC, about 16% of all crashes in 2016 involved drugs other than alcohol.
Steps to Take to Recover Damages from a Drunk Driver
If you were involved in an accident with a drunk driver, you will want to make sure that you take the
proper steps to protect yourself physically and legally.
File a Police Report – Call the police to have them come and make an accident report of
the incident and to ensure that they get the necessary information from the other driver.
Pursue a Claim – Call your insurance company right away to have a record of your accident
on file and to open a claim for your damages.
Seek Medical Attention – When you call the police, they might send emergency vehicles
anyways, but it is a good idea to seek medical attention if you think that you may have been
injured in the accident. Even if you don’t feel hurt, it can’t hurt to be looked at by medical
professionals to ensure that you don’t have a concussion or any internal injuries.
Contact Lloyd H. Thomas III, P.C.
Driving drunk is hazardous, and we are here to help those who have been victims of drunk drivers.
Call us at (404) 848-8898 or send us a message today! It’s important that you choose the right
personal injury attorney for your case so you can get the help that you need, and Lloyd H. Thomas
has the experience and expertise to help you properly settle your case.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN ATLANTA, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT LLOYD H. THOMAS, III ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TO BEGIN GETTING THE HELP YOU NEED.
DON’T WAIT ANY LONGER, CALL TODAY (404) 848-8898
