You may not be drunk, but you may be alcohol impaired. That means that alcohol has lessened your ability to see and think clearly and the alcohol has slowed your reaction time. It also means you should not be operating a motor vehicle. Research shows that impairment begins sometimes as early as after the first drink.
The legal limit for drunk driving, in all 50 states, is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08. For many women that is only 2 drinks and for men it can be as few as 4 drinks — a drink is one shot of hard liquor, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or one beer.
Years of research has shown that some impairment begins after only one drink. What are the dangers of driving alcohol impaired? Here are some of the changes that occur at different blood alcohol concentration levels:
- .02 BAC level – there is some loss of judgment, a decline in visual capabilities like tracking a moving object, and multi-tasking is more difficult
- .05 BAC level – there is loss of small-muscle control, impaired judgment, not able to focus eyes quickly, and slowed reflexes and alertness
- .07 BAC level – there is poor muscle coordination (which affects balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing), severely impaired judgment, difficulty concentrating, and impaired perception
Shocking statistics on drunk driving:
- A driver with a .08 BAC level is 10 times more likely to have a single-vehicle crash than drivers who have not been drinking.
- A driver with a .10 BAC level or greater is about 7 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.
- A person driving with a .15 BAC or greater is about 25 times more likely to be in a fatal crash.
There are so many alcohol-related car accidents that an estimated 40% of everyone in the United States will be involved in one at some point in their lives. The conclusion is that it is not wise to drive after you have had any drinks. The safest driving limit is .00 BAC level.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You may also be able to collect punitive damages. Punitive damages can be awarded when a defendant has acted with deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others — basically punishing the defendant.
In many drunk driving injury accident cases, additional insurance can be accessed. Dram shop or social host liability laws may have been violated. If so, claims can be filed against the offending parties.
A drunk driving case is not a simple, straight-forward case. You need qualified legal representation. The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have decades of combined experience and a history of success. Contact a Minnesota Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer at 612-362-0000. We will fight for your rights and fair compensation for your injuries. We have supported the mission of MADD Minnesota for years.
