If you are age 21 or beyond, Kentucky law allows you to drink alcohol, unless, of course, there is a particular reason in your individual criminal history that prohibits it. If you consume a drink with alcohol in it before planning to operate a motor vehicle, you are under obligation to make responsible decisions as to whether you are legally able to drive. If your blood alcohol content level is .08 or above, you risk facing arrest and DUI charges.
What if you are completely sober, haven’t touched a drop, and get into a car accident because another motorist made an irresponsible choice to drink and drive? Many fatalities occur every year throughout the nation because of drunk driving. If you suspect that a particular driver might be dealing with intoxication and can keep a safe distance between the two of you, you increase your chances of safely reaching your destination. That’s not always possible, however.
Why drunk driving is so dangerous
No two people’s bodies absorb or react to alcohol in the exact same way. What might be an acceptable amount for you to consume without adverse consequences might render another person prohibited from driving. Alcohol has many effects on the body, including cognitive impairment. Even if you feel like you can think clearly, you may lack the skills necessary to do certain things, such as operate a motor vehicle.
Alcohol is a sedative. A person who has consumed alcohol does not have the same decision-making capability he or she typically has when alcohol is not present in his or her bloodstream. Reaction time significantly slows when someone tries to drive while intoxicated. These are just a few reasons why drunk driving is so dangerous.
The after-effects
If you’re driving along a Kentucky highway and another motorist in your vicinity is having trouble focusing on the road or misjudges the distance between your car and his or her own, it might be a problem. Drunk drivers are responsible for many roadway fatalities; in fact, millions of people are guilty of this crime each year.
Not only might a driver incur higher insurance premiums after causing a collision, especially one that injures another person, DUI conviction can also mean substantial fines, jail time and/or driver’s license suspension or revocation.
If a drunk driver causes you injury
Even minor injuries can necessitate time off work, multiple trips to a doctor’s office and a lot of pain and discomfort. If you suffer moderate to severe injuries in a drunk driving accident, your life may never be the same. You may have a partial or full disability, or be unable to return to work, which can have immediate and long-lasting negative effects on your finances.
There is no reason you should bear the full financial burden of a drunk driving accident you did not cause. With appropriate medical treatment and access to other support networks, you can hopefully achieve as full a recovery as possible.