Everyone likes to have fun and let their troubles go away. A good party or a great night with your friends is something we just can’t refuse. Obviously, these options are going to include alcoholic beverages and a lot of things that can go wrong–like exaggerating with drinks. This will severely impair your driving abilities and will lead to drunk driving.
Getting behind a wheel after consuming a lot of alcohol is a serious crime in pretty much every part of the world, resulting in a driving under the influence (more commonly known as a DUI) charge. By definition, drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle with the operator’s ability to do so impaired as a result of alcohol consumption. But even if you’re able to hold your liquor, you still need to pay attention.
Your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) can’t go over a certain value, or you’ll still face a criminal charge, regardless of your driving abilities. Teenagers who binge drink or people who are struggling with an alcohol-related disorder in their lives are more at risk. Alcohol can affect several parts of your brain, your breathing will slow down, and your cognitive skills will be delayed, and alcohol will get absorbed in your bloodstream.
The Consequences of Drunk Driving
It’s now obvious that drinking and driving is a bad idea. But if you still need to be convinced, then it’s time to start talking about consequences. The penalties for drunk driving are different among states and jurisdictions, but you must never think that you’ll be able to get away with a slap on the wrist.
A lot of states require jail time and the payment of a huge fine, even on a first offense. That makes a lot of sense, because if you can stop someone the first time by showing him that there will be serious consequences, then you’re playing the long game as a jurisdiction and you’ll be able to save a lot of lives.
For instance, Ohio requires a mandatory 72 hour jail sentence on a first offense. A second and third offense is something not even worth mentioning, as you can already tell things will get incredibly worse. And, if we’re talking about lawyers, you’ll need to work a lot, it’s not easy to find one that’s interested in representing a drunk driver, especially if he has the bad habit of driving under the influence often and hoping for the best.
What to Do if You’re the Victim of a Drunk Driver
Drunk driving car accidents will usually lead to serious injuries. The crash is going to be violent and a lot of people usually require immediate medical assistance. After you’ve taken care of your personal health, you need to notify police and your insurance immediately. Police officers will surely write an accident report and place the driver in custody, so they can charge him with a DUI.
Your insurance will take care of the first step, starting a much needed claim process. But doing all of this by yourself is pretty much impossible, as you’ll probably still be recovering from your injuries and won’t be able to gather evidence and focus on the claim all by yourself. If you ever find yourself in a drunk driving accident, finding the right lawyer is crucial.
A good lawyer will be able to help you through the entire process, thoroughly examine your medical records (if you have them), and he’ll keep track of every piece of evidence needed. A lawyer is pretty much a lifesaver during these difficult times. If you care about proper compensation and demonstrating your injuries so your claim will receive the value it deserves, you’ll need one now more than ever.
