Drunk driving takes the lives of thousands of people every year in New York and across the country. Around one-third of all traffic accident fatalities are linked to driving under the influence, and some people are at particularly high risk of dying in a drunk driving crash. Young people under 24, people with previous drunk driving convictions and motorcyclists are the most likely to lose their lives in these car crashes. Drunk drivers may crash into other vehicles at high speeds, causing catastrophic injuries including head trauma, blood loss or organ damage.
When people take a drink, the alcohol remains in the bloodstream until it is filtered out by the liver. The liver filters alcohol at a rate of approximately 1 ounce every hour. In some cases, people with compromised livers, including long-term alcoholics, may process alcohol much more slowly. The blood alcohol concentration test used to indicate when a driver is drunk measures how much of the blood supply consists of alcohol. In most states across the county, people with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher can be charged with drunk driving. While it may seem like a tiny amount, this quantity has been shown to lead to poor judgement when operating a vehicle.
There are a number of reasons why young people are more likely to die in a drunk driving crash. If young drivers are themselves drunk, their relative lack of driving experience may lead them to make worse decisions than older drivers.
Car accidents can lead to devastating outcomes, including severe injuries and permanent disabilities. People who have been injured in a crash due to someone else’s drunk, distracted or dangerous driving may want to work with a personal injury lawyer. An attorney may be able to help accident victims pursue compensation for their damages, including medical bills and lost wages.
