Drunk driving is one of the most significant causes of vehicular accidents in the United States. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that nearly 30 people die every day in drunk driving accidents. This fact alone should highlight the dangers of driving while drunk, however, drunk driving still is a huge factor in most car accidents.
Legal Limits of Blood Alcohol Content
The effects of alcohol can impair your nervous system, which makes it difficult to make informed and timely decisions while driving a vehicle. The legal limit for a person’s blood alcohol concentration in Georgia, for example, depends on their age and driving status. If a person is under the age of 21, the legal blood alcohol concentration is 0.02. If a person is 21 years or older driving a non-commercial vehicle, the limit is 0.08. Finally, if the person is 21 years or older driving a commercial vehicle the limit is 0.04.
What to Do if You Are Involved in a Drunk Driving Accident
Even though these numbers vary by age and driving class, accidents that occur while driving under the influence can cause vehicle damage and personal injury, making it imperative to follow these steps if you are ever involved in a drunk driving accident.
Call the Police
First, you will want to call the police. The police should be your first point of contact because they are able to assess the accident and look for any indication of wrongdoing. Police officers will be able to administer a breathalyzer or a field sobriety test if they suspect alcohol was the cause of the vehicular accident.
In any situation, it is always best to cooperate with law enforcement, especially, if they find a driver tested positive for alcohol. Law enforcement will file charges against that driver for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and you may be called to appear in court for trial.
Seek Medical Attention
Your next step if you are involved in a drunk driving accident would be to seek out medical attention for any injuries you might have sustained from the accident. It is important to do this in a timely manner because it can vastly affect your health and can help prevent illness and conditions from forming.
Contact an Attorney
Once you have sought out medical help, you should contact a personal injury attorney who can further your case. An experienced attorney, like a Decatur attorney, will perform an investigation into the events that occurred during and after the accident, obtain police reports, and follow up on any criminal cases against the drunk driver.
Thanks to The Lynch Law Group for their insight into what to do if you are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver.