In 2018, a drunk-driving fatality occurred every 50 minutes, which resulted in the deaths of 10,511 people. That same year, one out of every 227 drivers were arrested for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel. Despite the seriousness of drunk driving offenses, and the havoc they wreak on entire families, drunk drivers are still not getting the message.
Our goal at Martinez, Hart, Thompson & Sanchez, P.C. is to support our clients by holding irresponsible parties accountable for their injurious actions. We do this to ensure accident victims receive fair and just compensation for their injuries, but also to deter future drunk drivers from committing the same heinous crimes.
You often hear drunk drivers state that they know their limits when it comes to drinking. There is an assumption that as long as you’re under the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), you’re capable of operating a vehicle responsibly. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
The effects of alcohol on a person’s driving ability begin with the very first drink. And the more alcohol consumed, the higher a person’s BAC becomes. Here is a breakdown of how BAC impacts driving ability:
The more you drink, the higher your BAC becomes. However, it takes fewer drinks to get drunk than most people assume. Just two standard-sized drinks raise BAC to .02%, and by four drinks BAC will mostly likely have breached the legal limit. At seven drinks severe impairment occurs, making the risk of a fatal accident far more likely. Drink sizes vary according to the potency of what the alcohol. A standard-sized glass of beer is 12-ounces, while a standard-sized shot of liquor is only 1.5-ounces.
The actions of careless drunk drivers often harm innocent people who are simply going about their day until their entire world is changed. When this occurs, having the help of a dedicated law firm with a genuine commitment to protecting clients, is a must to move forward.
