The holiday season is here and with it comes many opportunities to have a drink with family or friends. Most people drink responsibly but there will always be those who overdo it and become intoxicated. Some of these intoxicated people will then make the risky decision of driving home from the celebration. Sadly, some of these drivers will ultimately cause a drunk driving accident.
How drunk is too drunk to drive?
Most people in East Hartford already know that if a motorist’s blood-alcohol concentration is above the legal limit of .08 or above, they are too drunk to drive safely. A driver with a BAC of .08 will have difficulty concentrating and controlling their speed. They may experience short-term memory loss and they may experience a decline in their ability to process information. Their perception may also be impaired. It is easy to see how this would lead to dangerous driving behaviors and ultimately cause a car crash. If you were struck by a driver with a BAC of .08, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
What if a person’s BAC is below the legal limit?
Now, what if a motorist’s BAC is .05? This is below the legal limit, but it does not mean it is safe to drive. A person with a BAC of .05 may find that their coordination is reduced as is their ability to track moving objects. Steering the vehicle becomes more difficult. They may also have problems responding to emergency situations on the road. As you can see, a motorist does not need to have a BAC at or above the legal limit to experience effects that make it difficult to drive safely and could lead to a car crash. You may have grounds to file a personal injury claim if struck by a driver with a BAC of .05, even though that BAC is below the legal limit.
Drunk driving is an act of negligence
Drunk driving can be seen as an act of negligence and could form the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. All drivers are tasked with the duty to drive safely and reasonably under the circumstances. Drunk driving breaches this duty. If the breach causes a car accident and the breach is foreseeable and if the crash causes you to suffer injuries, you may want to learn more about whether you can file a lawsuit against the drunk driver.
