While driving can be dangerous at the best of times, sharing the road with drunk drivers makes that danger much more prevalent. In fact, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one out of every three vehicle accident deaths is alcohol-related. While the law allows injured victims to recover for the injuries that they suffered as a result of a careless drunk driver, knowing the signs to watch for may help avoid those sorts of crashes. All drivers should know how to identify other drivers who may be driving under the influence and the proper way to handle it.
How to Identify Drunk Drivers
There are no hard and fast rules for identifying drunk drivers, but there are certainly some good rules of thumb. One important thing to do is use extra caution when drunk drivers are more likely to be out. People are a lot more likely to run across a drunk driver at 2:00 in the morning than they are at 2:00 in the afternoon. People should also be extra alert on holiday weekends when drunk driving often spikes.
There is a variety of driving behaviors that may reveal whether someone is drunk behind the wheel. Alcohol affects people’s reaction times, so unpredictable or sudden braking is often a common sign of a drunk driver. Drinking can also impact drivers’ ability to accurately judge distances, which can lead to stopping too early or making overly wide turns. Similarly, alcohol can impair motor skills, which can make it difficult for a person to stay in their lane.
Responding to a Drunk Driver
People are often confused about how to react when they find themselves behind a drunk driver. Some people think that the best thing to do is to try to pass them, putting the danger in the rearview mirror. However, passing a drunk driver can be dangerous, and may cause a collision. People are better off giving them a wide berth to better react in the case of erratic behavior and turning down another street to avoid them.
It is also a good idea to alert the police to the presence of a drunk driver on the road. This is best done by getting the car’s license plate and location and then calling the police to relay that information. Of course, drivers should pull to the side of the road before making the call or have a passenger do it.
Let a Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Help
Drunk drivers are a serious and common threat to the people with whom they share the road. While there are ways to reduce the risk they present, not all drunk driving accidents can be prevented.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, contact a Virginia Beach car accident attorney to find out what legal options you may have.
The legal team from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has been advocating for injured clients since 1985 and will do all we can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case. If you would like to meet with one of our skilled Va. car accident attorneys to find out how we can help, call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
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