Driving Under The Influence

Every driver knows that operating a vehicle while impaired or intoxicated is extremely dangerous and illegal. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of the biggest traffic safety problems in the country today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29 victims throughout the United States die in collisions involving alcohol-impaired drivers every day. That is equivalent to 1 fatality every 50 minutes! In New York State, over 40 percent of all fatal highway accidents involve impaired driving. These facts and statistics do very little to show all of the debilitating injuries, life-long disfigurements, tens of thousands of innocent lives cut short, and families devastated because of motorists who got behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs.  

 Common Causes Of Accidents While Driving Under The Influence

Driving while impaired or intoxicated places everyone on the road at risk. In an instant, another driver’s poor judgment can jeopardize numerous lives. After consuming alcohol or drugs, a driver’s vision, perception, awareness, reaction time, and motor skills can all be substantially affected. Additionally, motorists under the influence are more likely to participate in reckless conduct that increases the risk of crashing, such as driving more aggressively, changing lanes erratically, swerving, and speeding. Some common alcohol and drug-related car accidents include:

1. Failing to yield the right-of-way accidents;
2. Sideswipes;
3. Head-on collisions;
4. Passing in no-passing zone accidents;
5. Crashes caused by failing to stop at stop signs or red lights; 
6. T-Bone accidents;
7. Rear-end collisions; and
8. Single-vehicle crashes.

 Drugs, Alcohol, And New York Law

 In New York State, drivers can be arrested for various offenses, including: 

1. Aggravated driving while intoxicated (Agg-DWI);
2. Driving while intoxicated (DWI);
3. Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more (.08 BAC);
4. Driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI); 
5. Driving while ability impaired by a drug (DWAI-drug); and 
6. Driving under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol. 

Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood. The arresting officer will likely request a chemical test, which uses the suspect’s breath, saliva, blood, or urine to measure their BAC. A blood alcohol content of over .05 percent is legal evidence of impairment. A blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more substantiates intoxication. A blood alcohol content of .18 percent or higher indicates aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Discuss Your Case With A Highly Accomplished Buffalo, New York Personal Injury Lawyer

Jed Dietrich, Esq., famed as an American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is here for you. You may be entitled to seek monetary compensation for all hospital bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, permanent disfigurement, and any other unforeseen losses before the defendant is even convicted in criminal court. Most importantly, filing a lawsuit can help provide you with a sense of justice by forcing the driver to accept responsibility for their recklessness. Our veteran team of attorneys is available around the clock by dialing 716-839-3939 or completing the online consultation form.