Were you struck by a drunk driver on your way home from a celebration this past Halloween weekend? If so, you are not alone. According to the AAA, Halloween presents the traffic safety triple-threat of an uptick in pedestrians, drunk driving and, especially since Halloween night was also Daylight Saving Time this year, drowsy driving.
Halloween sees its fair share of drunk drivers
According to AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on October 31, 2019, 89 people died in motor vehicle accidents, 13% of which were drunk driving accidents. And, from the time period spanning from 2013 to 2017, 158 individuals lost their lives in drunk driving accidents on the night of October 31. During that same time period, 33% of fatal pedestrian accidents involved a drunk driver. And, during that time period 42% of all individuals who lost their lives in car accidents on Halloween night were in a collision involving a drunk driver.
It does not take that much alcohol to affect your driving
People may be surprised to hear that just because a driver is below the legal limit does not mean they are safe to drive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol can cause impairment even if your blood alcohol concentration is below 0.08%. For example, after around three drinks, your BAC may be about 0.05%. However, your coordination abilities and your ability to track moving objects may decline and you may find it more difficult to manipulate the steering wheel. This could easily lead to a car crash.
However, what if you only had around two drinks and your BAC is a mere 0.02%. That certainly means you are safe to drive, right? Actually, not. Even at a BAC of 0.02%, you could still find that your visual functions are reduced and your ability to perform two tasks at once is reduced. Again, this could easily lead to a car crash.
If you were hurt by a Halloween drunk driver, seek help
Ultimately, if you suffered injuries in a car crash caused by a drunk driver in the Morgantown area this past Halloween, you will want to determine what your legal rights and options are. Injuries from an auto accident can last for months or even be permanent. Personal injury attorneys in Morgantown understand these concerns and may be a useful source of information for car crash victims.
