Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving
The Mobile personal injury attorneys at Tobias & Comer Law, LLC have extensive experience handling cases involving alcohol and drug related motor vehicle accidents. Contact us immediately if you have been involved in a car accident in the Mobile area and suspect negligence by another party. We will put our extensive knowledge of motor vehicle accident cases to work for you.
Alcohol Related Motor Vehicle Accidents
Everyday about 32 people are killed in the United States as a result of drunk driving – that’s one person every 45 minutes. As alcohol levels rise in a person’s bloodstream, their ability to safely operate a vehicle dramatically declines. Alcohol impacts brain function, impairs thinking, and alters muscle coordination- all of which are essential to operating a vehicle. Alcohol level is measured by the amount of alcohol contained in the blood, or the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). A BAC of .08 dramatically increases the likelihood of causing a crash. Because of this risk, it is illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. In 2020, for example, 11,654 people died in alcohol impaired driving crashes, a 14% increase from 2019. NHTSA estimated the total economic cost of alcohol impaired crashes at 44 billion dollars as result of lost productivity, work problems, legal costs, medical costs, insurance costs, and property damage. And these are just the tangible costs, these numbers do not measure the impact to victims of drunk driving and their families.
Drug Related Motor Vehicle Accidents
In addition to alcohol impairment, operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any potentially impairing drug is dangerous and puts the public in harms way. The CDC reports, for example that drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes. Drugs such as marijuana slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Marijuana, for example, has been shown to impair motor skills, lane tracking, cognitive function, and the ability to think critically, all of which are important when are critical to safely operating a vehicle. The danger is disturbing, as recent trends indicate more drivers are operating vehicles under the influence of marijuana. NHTSA found 20 percent of surveyed drivers tested positive for potentially impairing drugs and 12.6% percent of weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for marijuana. Overall, NHTSA identified a 48 % increase in drivers testing positive for marijuana in less than 10 years. Drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine make drivers aggressive and reckless. Some prescription medications can also cause dizziness and other side effects. For this reason, drivers should carefully read warning labels on any prescription drugs before operating a vehicle. There are also risk factors associated with polypharmacy, which basically involves the amplifying effects of taking two or more drugs at the same time.
If impaired or using an impairing drug, you should designate a sober driver, call a cab, or use a ride-hailing service. Don’t let friends behind the wheel if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And always remember to wear your seatbelt as it is your best defense against impaired drivers.
It is important to hire experienced car accident lawyers serving the Mobile area. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to an accident involving a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, contact the Mobile, Alabama, law firm of Tobias & Comer Law, LLC. We can evaluate your case and represent you through litigation and trial. We are experienced car accident attorneys who represent injured people in Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Saraland, Satsuma, and all over Alabama.
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