According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person dies every 50 minutes in a collision involving a drunk driver. This is significant, as the drinking doesn’t have to occur at a bar or restaurant. Even those in Kent who thought they could enjoy a few drinks at home, and then run to the store or some other location can still cause a drunk driving accident. And, it only takes a couple of drinks for a person to become impaired.
For example, a person who has had about three drinks may have a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05% — below the legal limit of 0.08%. However, drivers with a BAC under the legal limit can still be too impaired to drive.
A driver with a BAC of 0.05% can experience a reduction in both their coordination and their ability to track objects in motion. They may have trouble steering. In addition, their ability to respond to an emergency driving situation can be negatively affected. Any of these factors can lead to negligent driving and a subsequent car crash.
Ultimately, if you are planning to drive, it is best not to drink at all. However, this won’t stop people from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Drunk driving may be considered a breach of a motorist’s duty to drive reasonably under the circumstances. If this breach both actually and proximately causes a motor vehicle accident that injures or kills another person, that person may choose to pursue a personal injury claim against the drunk driver for the harms they suffered.