All accidents are frightening and painful, but when a person suffers injuries or their loved one is injured or killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver, it’s especially devastating. Knowing that one person’s irresponsible decision caused a preventable car accident with terrible consequences causes particular emotional anguish. Getting behind the wheel while intoxicated seems like an unfathomable action to most people, yet a person dies in a drunk driving accident about every 39 minutes in the United States. So, why do drunk driving accidents occur? What are the most common causes of drunk driving? Car accident attorneys in Atlanta experienced in handling drunk driving accident cases explain some of the common causes:
Just as alcohol causes the drinker to say and do things they wouldn’t usually do—think of a normally shy coworker dancing on a table at a company Christmas party—it also lowers inhibitions behind the wheel. A cautious driver may exceed the speed limit and take unnecessary risks. When alcohol is present in the bloodstream, it impacts the brain’s decision-making ability. Alcohol causes the drinker to live in the moment and temporarily suspends their ability to consider the later consequences. This is why people continue to drink despite the inevitable hangover—and potentially worse consequences. When a person’s ability to consider the future results of their actions is suspended, they cannot make good decisions. This may lead to them choosing to drive while under the influence.
When a person consumes a large amount of alcohol, they may have a great time enjoying the high for hours, leading to the urge to continue drinking to prolong the fun. However, when the alcohol content in the blood becomes dangerously high, the intoxicated person may suddenly feel very sleepy or subconsciously realize that they are going to lose consciousness. Often, instinct tells them to find a safe place to sleep, leading to the urge to go to bed immediately. This causes many highly intoxicated drivers to get into their cars with “getting home to bed” as their goal.
Not only does alcohol lower inhibitions and remove the fear of consequences, but it also inspires a false sense of confidence. At the same time that alcohol negatively impacts visual perception, slows reaction times, and impairs judgment, it also raises endorphins and causes a feeling of invincibility and inflated self-confidence. An intoxicated person may feel that not only can they drive, but they can drive better than anyone else on the road.
In many cases, a drunk driver who gets a DUI or causes a car accident isn’t drinking and driving for the first time. Atlanta personal injury lawyers have often seen that if a driver has done it successfully before, they are more likely to have a false sense of security. A driver who has successfully navigated their way home, or out to a different destination such as a liquor store, while intoxicated is more likely to assume they can do so safely again.
Not every intoxicated driver is an alcoholic or habitual drunk driver. Sometimes a person who drinks several glasses of wine with dinner or who has a few drinks with friends does not realize that they are too impaired to drive. Although the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08%, a person’s size, weight, and metabolism are important factors in their level of intoxication. A good rule of thumb is to consider that “buzzed” driving is drunk driving. If a person has consumed enough alcohol to feel elated, they’ve had enough to cause other symptoms such as impaired judgment and reduced reaction times.
"*" indicates required fields