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Drunk Driving and Car Accidents

Despite the numerous ads, warnings and horror stories about the dangers of drunk driving, a large number of people continue to operate vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. In fact, someone is killed by a drunk driving car crash approximately once every 52 minutes and one third of all crash fatalities are caused by a drunk driver. The number of drunk driving related injuries is even worse, with someone suffering bodily harm caused by an inebriated driver approximately once every 90 seconds.

Shockingly, one out of every three people will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some point. And with an estimated 2 million drunk drivers on the road at any given time, even the most careful drivers can become victims of car accidents caused by inebriated drivers. Car crashes are overwhelming enough on their own, but discovering that the car accident was caused by a drunk driver is even more devastating because this crime is almost always completely preventable.

The Dangerous Effects of Alcohol
Even though drivers who have been drinking may insist that they’re able to drive, the truth is that alcohol severely impairs a driver’s ability to function and safely operate a vehicle.

Michigan laws prohibit drivers from operating their vehicle with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.08%. For a woman who weighs 120 pounds, this blood alcohol level could be achieved by drinking as few as two drinks and for a 180-pound man, as few as four drinks could cause him to reach that level.

However, even with a blood alcohol content of just .02%, drivers will experience a lack of judgment and a decline in visual function as well as diminished ability to perform two tasks at once. By the time a person reaches 0.08%, he or she will experience poor concentration, short-term memory loss, a reduction in the ability to process information and difficulties controlling speed.

Any one of these effects is dangerous for a driver to experience, but with these factors combined, it’s frightening to think of the condition that millions of people drive under every day. Even more troubling is the fact that many drivers who cause fatal crashes have blood alcohol levels that far exceed the .08% limit.

A Troubling Number of Repeat Offenders
It’s even more disturbing to know that many drunk drivers are repeat offenders who continue to drive while intoxicated, even after they’ve been warned, sanctioned or arrested. Approximately one third of drunk driving arrests are made on people who are repeat offenders, many of whom have already had their licenses revoked.

Drunk driving is an ongoing problem for offenders because the average drunk driver has driven under the influence of alcohol a whopping 80 times before his or her first arrest. These repeat offenders are the primary targets of aggressive efforts to put a stop to drunk driving.

Groups At Risk
There are several groups of people who are at higher risks of getting behind the wheel while drunk. Younger drivers as a whole have a much higher rate of involvement in alcohol related car accidents. Studies have shown that 35% of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes are between the ages of 21 and 24. Drivers ages 25 to 34 comprise the next highest percentage, followed by drivers ages 35 to 44.

Motorcyclists are also more likely than other groups to be involved in alcohol related accidents. In 2009, nearly one third of all motorcyclists who died in crashes were found to have blood alcohol levels over the legal limit.

Measures to Stop Drunk Drivers
Government and law officials are actively trying to stop drunk drivers and create harsher penalties, particularly for repeat offenders, who pose the largest threats to other drivers.

Michigan law prohibits drivers from operating their vehicles with blood alcohol levels of higher than 0.08%. For drivers under the age of 21, it’s illegal to drive with any presence of alcohol in the body. In Michigan, there are also harsher penalties for anyone found to be driving with a “High BAC,” or a blood alcohol level that exceeds 0.17%.

Suspending or revoking an offender’s driver’s license is one method that has been used to keep drunk drivers off the roads. Unfortunately, many offenders continue to drive drunk, even after their licenses have been suspended.

Another step law enforcement uses is creating sobriety checkpoints, which are areas where police officers can pull over drivers and require them to undergo an assessment for alcohol impairment. This method has been shown to be effective in reducing the number of crashes and deaths resulting from drunk driving.

Sometimes offenders may be ordered to use an ignition interlock device, which is a machine that is installed on a car’s dashboard. The device operates like a Breathalyzer and requires that the driver breathe into the device and obtain an acceptable blood alcohol reading before he or she can start the ignition.

In addition to these measures, offenders in Michigan may be ordered to successfully complete a rehabilitation program, serve a jail sentence or pay a Driver Responsibility Fee, depending on the severity of their charge.

Getting Help
If you or a family member has been involved in an alcohol-related crash, there are several places to find help. Many organizations are not only fighting for tougher legislation and more effective education about drunk driving, but they also provide resources for victims of drunk driving accidents and well as people who may have lost a family member or friend in a drunk driving accident. Some of these organizations include MADD (Mother Against Drunk Driving), SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

Victims and the family members of victims may also be eligible to receive compensation after a drunk driving accident and could greatly benefit from having a car accident lawyer to advise them. Contact our office for legal advice so we can evaluate your individual case and find out what benefits or compensation you’re entitled to.

The Law Offices of Jason A. Waechter

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