The consequences of drinking and driving are unfortunately usually only realized when it’s already too late. When injuries occur because of a driver who has had too much to drink, it is important to understand and assess his or her level of intoxication. Aside from the criminal consequences that drivers face when they drive drunk, their levels of intoxication can have a significant effect on any injury claim filed against them or their insurance company. If you have been injured due to a drunk driver, then it is important to understand how alcohol affects drivers.
What is Blood Alcohol Content?
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) deals with the percentage of alcohol that is present in someone’s bloodstream. Someone’s BAC is usually a good indicator of how intoxicated that person is. If someone’s bloodstream gives a BAC of .10%, this means that this person currently has one part of alcohol for every 1000 parts of blood in his or her system. In the state of Washington, it illegal to drive if you have a BAC of .08% or higher. If someone has a BAC of .08% or higher, they are deemed legally intoxicated. If you have suffered an injury because of a drunk driver, then it is important that you speak to an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible.
How is Blood Alcohol Concentration Measured?
BAC can be measured through the use of a breath test, urine test, or blood test. The most common way that BAC is measured is through a breath test. There are two main breath tests that are used to measure BAC: The Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and the Datamaster DMT. A PBT aka a Breathalyzer, is typically a small handheld device that a person blows into that measures someone’s BAC. The results of a PBT can result in someone’s arrest, but the results are not admissible in court. The Datamaster DMT is the main breath test analyzer where the results are considered most accurate and admissible in court as evidence.
What Are the Effects of Alcohol?
If a driver is under the influence of alcohol, several things may affect their safe driving. Some of the most common effects of alcohol on drivers include:
· Slowed reaction times
· Blurred vision
· Lessened peripheral vision
· Lessened ability to comprehend dangers on the road
· Lessened ability to concentrate
· Poor coordination
· Drowsiness
As a driver’s ability to make quick decisions lessens with each drink, the danger for the driver to end up in an accident exponentially rises. The effects of alcohol consumption can hit someone quickly and should be an alarm for drivers to pull over and get a safe ride home. Simply put, if a driver is over the legal limit, they should not be driving a motor vehicle.
How Different Blood Alcohol Levels Affect Driving
The physical and mental effects of alcohol can affect a driver’s performance in several ways. The more alcoholic drinks that a person consumes, the higher their concentration of alcohol will be. People who have a BAC of .01-.03% generally don’t show any apparent effects. People who have a BAC of .04-.06% start to show a minor impairment of memory and reasoning. People who have a BAC of .07-.09% start to lose their ability to maintain their balance, control, and the ability to see and speak clearly. As BAC increases in a driver, more significant physical and mental consequences can occur, even resulting in death.
How Accident Attorneys Help You Recover from Injuries Caused by Drunk Drivers
If you were injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, then it is important that you seek the advice of an experienced car accident attorney. You may be eligible to recover money to compensate you for your injuries and other related expenses. It is important to try to make your recovery process as easy and stress-free as possible. One way to do this is to enlist the proper help that you need with a trusted attorney so you can focus on your physical recovery and personal well-being.
Sofia’s No Fee Guarantee
Attorney Sofia K. Miguel guarantees that you will never write a check to our office under Sofia’s “no fee guarantee.” Consultations are free and if your case is selected, then Sofia will also cover all of your court costs incurred during your DUI injury case.
Sofia only gets paid when you do. Her services will cost you nothing out of pocket; simple as that. Let Sofia’s nearly twenty years of experience in helping people recover from their injuries get to work for you now.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a drunk driver near Seattle, Puyallup, or Tacoma, WA, then contact attorney Sofia Miguel as she is ready to help you fight to get the money you deserve. Call us at 253-200-4471, come visit our office right here in Puyallup at 702 S. Hill Park Dr. #207, or contact us online anytime. We are here for you.
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