Drunk Driving: Taking a Terrible Risk

The fact that drunk driving is dangerous is hardly a new revelation. Government agencies and private organizations have been publicizing this information for years, in many different media. These efforts, combined with increased law enforcement, have yielded some success. Unfortunately, while drunk driving accident rates have decreased in recent decades, they have not yet reached zero.

Now that the facts about intoxicated driving have been so widely disseminated, there is simply no excuse for indulging in this reckless behavior. If you or someone you care about has been hurt by an impaired driver, you could have grounds for a legal claim against the negligent party. To learn more, call a Des Moines personal injury lawyer of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. at 877-327-2600.

Alcohol’s Effects on the Mind

Statistics have clearly shown that people under the influence of alcohol are at an increased risk for becoming involved in car accidents. This relationship has been attributed to several different effects that alcohol can have on a person. The more alcohol you consume, the more likely you are to experience potentially dangerous effects like:

• Impaired hand-eye coordination. Being able to keep track of one’s surroundings and respond accordingly is a very important part of driving. Unfortunately, alcohol impairs people’s ability to follow moving objects and control precise muscle movements. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair a person’s steering abilities.
• Lowered impulse control. Alcohol has a dis-inhibiting effect on many people, making them more likely to do things they would never do sober. A drunk driver is far more likely to ignore traffic signs, speed, and break the law in other ways.
• Impaired multi-tasking abilities. Studies have shown that intoxicated people have great difficulty focusing on more than one task at a time. This can result in deadly accidents when a drunk driver attempts to steer safely while following a conversation, changing a radio station, or engaging in any other activity, no matter how small.

Due to impairments like these, drivers with blood alcohol contents of .10 or above are about seven times more likely to be involved in fatal collisions. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a drunk driver, our Des Moines impaired driving injury lawyers can help.

Contact Us

Victims of drunk drivers can be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. To learn more, contact Des Moines drunk driving injury lawyers LaMarca & Landry, P.C. at 877-327-2600.