Drivers of various skill levels fill Pennsylvania roadways. Some teens may be behind the wheel after just getting their license, and other experienced drivers may be heading to work as they have done for decades. It is also likely that elderly individuals are on the road, whether they should be or not.
Unfortunately, drunk drivers are commonly also on roads in the state and elsewhere across the country. Though you may never drink alcohol before driving, you know that others do not make that same decision. As a result, almost any time you are on the road, you could face the risk of a drunk driver crashing into your vehicle.
Why do drunk drivers cause accidents?
Alcohol can make people act in ways that they likely would not when sober. This happens because alcohol alters a person’s body chemistry in ways that impair brain function. As a result, if an individual consumes alcohol, especially a copious amount, those drinks could affect a person’s driving abilities in the following ways:
- Decrease vision by causing objects to appear blurry and causing uncontrollable eye movement
- Slow reaction times, which can cause a drunk driver to brake slower and inhibit the driver’s ability to respond properly to sudden scenarios
- Impair judgment, which could result in a driver not recognizing hazards or not reacting to those hazards appropriately
- Reduce concentration, causing a driver to become more easily distracted
- Diminish coordination, which can make it more difficult for a drunk driver to keep a vehicle under control
Of course, it is important to note that even one alcoholic drink can cause impairment. You may think that any of these issues would be enough to keep an impaired driver from getting behind the wheel, but regrettably, numerous individuals choose to drive after consuming alcohol and cause serious and fatal car accidents nearly every day.
Were you injured in such a crash?
If you recently suffered serious injuries in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you may understandably want to seek justice and recompense for the harrowing ordeal you have experienced. Fortunately, you may have legal options available to you to pursue compensation for damages allowable under state law. Discussing the incident, the damages you suffered and your available courses of legal action with an experienced attorney may allow you to find the best route for handling this situation.