Drunk driving accidents: how alcohol affects driving ability

Despite valiant efforts by local law enforcement and nonprofit organizations, drunk driving remains a problem in the Reno area. It practically goes without saying that these intoxicated motorists pose a serious risk to other drivers. When a drunk driver causes an accident, the results are usually tragic. Victims can be left with catastrophic injuries, disability, and death. Victims of drunk driving accidents , as well as surviving family members of those killed in these wrecks, should carefully consider whether legal action is in their best interests.

Although drunk driving may establish negligence in a personal injury lawsuit, the focus should really be on how the intoxication affected one’s driving ability and, therefore, caused the accident in question. Alcohol can affect an individual’s driving ability in a number of ways. To start, alcohol diminishes an individual’s reaction time, meaning that he or she is slower to respond to changing circumstances. Also, one’s ability to appropriately track their own vehicle and others an be impacted, thereby causing that driver to inaccurately gauge their own position as well as the position of others.

But there are other ways that alcohol can affect one’s driving ability. Concentration is often significantly reduced in those who are under the influence of alcohol, and one’s comprehension can also take a hit. This can make it more likely that a drunk driver will fail to recognize red lights and stop signs, as well as pedestrians in crosswalks. Alcohol can also impair a driver’s coordination, making it challenging for him or her to appropriately control his or her vehicle using gas and brake pedals, as well as the steering wheel.

While proving intoxication can be a big factor in a car accident case, a victim must still show that the intoxication caused the wreck in question. An attorney who is experienced in this area of the law will know how to use the facts at hand to develop and present compelling legal arguments that seek to draw this nexus which, in turn, will hopefully lead to the imposition of liability and the recovery of compensation.