Operating a motor vehicle is a serious activity that requires complete concentration. While you no doubt are a driver who gives your full attention to the road while driving, you, unfortunately, can only control your own actions, which partially leaves your well-being in the hands of others.
The scary truth is that all it takes is for one person to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking to put everyone else’s life in danger. And while the public safety message behind avoiding drunk driving is one everyone has heard loud and clear for years, there are plenty of drivers who risk it — thinking they either aren’t that drunk, or that they are such good drivers that it doesn’t matter. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The influence of alcohol on a driver
While there are countless circumstances in which a serious collision may occur, drunk driving accidents continue to be a concern in many parts of the country, including here in Louisiana.
Intoxication can severely limit one’s driving capabilities in a number of ways, including:
- Concentration and response: Individuals who drive while drunk are inherently less capable of concentrating.
- Motor skills: Alcohol can also have a significant impact on a person’s coordination, which is essential to his or her ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. There are a lot of things going on at once — steering, shifting gears, turning — as examples. It’s essential for a driver to be able to do all of these things at once, seamlessly.
- Blurred vision: Having one too many drinks makes vision blurry. It is humanely impossible to safely operate a vehicle when you can’t see clearly.
- Poor judgment: Alcohol affects your judgment. Maybe after a few drinks someone thinks it’s OK to speed? Or can no longer judge how much room there is between cars?
What to do after a crash
The No. 1 thing is to not just accept a settlement offer. While the initial offer may sound good — especially as you start getting hospital bills — you want to wait to see your options, as you could be short-changing yourself by accepting a lowball offer.