The Impact of Driving Under the Influence

December 28, 2018

Drivers in Philadelphia may be interested in learning about the impact that drunk driving has throughout the country. It is estimated that drinking fatalities account for one third of traffic-related fatalities. Individuals under the age of 24 are affected at a greater rate than others.

The cause of death varies based on how the accident unfolded. Head trauma, damage to internal organs and heavy blood loss can all occur during traffic accidents. Younger individuals run a greater risk because many are inexperienced drivers, young people often travel with others in the car, and young people are more prone to be distracted while driving.

Alcohol affects people differently: An individual who has a healthy liver can expect for their body to take approximately one hour to process 1 ounce of alcohol. If a person has a compromised liver, it can take longer. In the United States, a person who blows 0.08 on a breath test has 1/8 of 1 percent of alcohol in their blood. This may not sound like a lot, but it is enough to impair one’s reaction time. When split second decisions need to be made, this impaired reaction time can lead to fatalities.

The definition of drunk driving varies from country to country. As an example, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil have a zero tolerance policy. This means that it is illegal to drive if you have any alcohol in your blood. The 0.08 percent limit seen in countries like Mexico, the United States and other countries is about the highest limit in the world. Much work has been done to prevent drunk driving fatalities. This includes imposing heavy fines and placing checkpoints along the roads.

If a person was driving under the influence, it could lead to injuries to others if they were to cause a crash. A personal injury attorney may be able to help those injured in this circumstance by going to court with them and presenting evidence that their injuries were a result of the other driver’s negligence.

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