When you’re behind the wheel, you owe a duty of care to others on the road that you’ll drive safely and obey all traffic laws. Intoxicated drivers break this duty of care and put lives in danger. Drunk driving accidents can cause injuries that require hospitalization and a long recovery period. If a driver has injured you in an accident that was caused by their levels of intoxication, an Omaha drunk driving accident lawyer from Welsh & Welsh can help.
Welsh & Welsh has defended the rights of Nebraska citizens for years and we will continue to always stand up for people who have been injured because others were negligent. We’ll do everything we can to get you the compensation you need.
Drunk Driving Causes Crashes and Fatalities
Drunk driving has caused many terrible accidents and prematurely ended many lives. The Insurance Information Institute released eye-opening facts and statistics about alcohol-impaired driving.
- According to the FBI, there were about 1,017,808 drivers who were arrested for drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs in 2016.
- In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-related crashes.
- In 2016, 27 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 34 were driving while drunk and were involved in fatal crashes.
Drunk driving claims many lives and causes countless injuries every year. You may have even lost a loved one to an intoxicated driver. If this has happened to you, there are legal steps you can take to get justice for your loved one. Get in touch with our Omaha wrongful death lawyers to discuss your case.
Who Is at Risk for Drunk Driving?
Some groups and demographics are at a higher risk for drunk driving than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list these people as those who are most at risk for driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Young Drivers. Those between the ages of 21 and 34 are more likely to drive when they’re drunk when compared to older demographics.
- Previous DWI Convictions. Drivers who are caught drunk driving or have caused a fatal crash are 4.5 times more likely to have a previous conviction of driving while intoxicated.
- Motorcyclists. In the age group of 35 to 39, motorcyclists have been involved in fatal crashes when they’re over the legal drinking limit.
But just because these groups are at higher risk for drunk driving doesn’t mean others aren’t at risk at all. Anybody can make the reckless decision to drink and get behind the wheel. It doesn’t matter how close they are to home or if they’re a safe driver while they’re sober. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a risk every time.
How Does Blood Alcohol Concentration Affect Driving?
Any time you drink and get behind the wheel, your reactions will not be as sharp and you won’t be as alert as you are when you’re sober. The following shows how your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) affects your driving.
- BAC of .02: At this level, your judgment will already be slightly affected, and you may already have issues with visual function.
- BAC of .05: Your alertness is reduced and judgment is impaired. Your coordination isn’t great, and you may have difficulty with steering and tracking moving objects.
- BAC of .08: This is the legal limit. At this point your balance, reaction time, and senses are poor. You may not be able to control your speed or concentrate on driving.
- BAC of .10: People with this BAC have slurred speech and their thinking process is slowed down. They may swerve out of their lanes and will have trouble knowing when to hit the brakes.
- BAC of .15: This level prevents people from walking, can make people sick, and won’t be able to focus on driving at all. Their ability to take in visual and auditory information is significantly reduced.
When people are driving with these BAC levels, they can cause a lot of devastating injuries. Many car accident injuries can be catastrophic or permanent. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and loss of limbs are possible life-altering injuries a drunk driver can cause. People can also suffer from whiplash or psychological injuries like depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Get Help from an Omaha Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
You shouldn’t have to pay for the negligence of others. With our help, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. You will be able to focus on the future and move forward with your recovery. There’s also a chance the offending driver will lose their license for a period of time. This could possibly prevent them from ever getting behind the wheel while intoxicated again. To get started on your claim, get in touch with our office and set up a free consultation. Our car crash injury lawyers may be able to help.
