When we think of our vehicle, we don’t really think of it as a weapon. However, if the driver were to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, a vehicle could become a weapon that could hurt or kill. This is because when drivers are intoxicated, they aren’t operating their vehicle to the best of their ability, as alcohol is a depressant that slows down the body.
When checking for signs of DUI or drunk driving, officers will sometimes conduct sobriety tests. Sobriety tests are looking for signs of impairment, like slow response time or impairment to the driver’s cognitive abilities. If you have been involved in a car accident with a suspected drunk driver and you have suffered injuries, it could be a direct result of that person’s decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
For this crime, the person could be facing criminal charges, but also potentially a civil lawsuit. These personal injury lawsuits are filed by the injured parties as the losses they incurred were a result of the driver’s negligence or gross negligence, depending on their level of intoxication and severity of the crash and injuries. Drunk driving is illegal for a reason. It’s because so many car accidents and injuries could be avoided if a person chooses not to drive while intoxicated.
After a car accident in which impairment is suspected, a blood test will often be ordered, especially if the person is unable to consent. This can indicate if a driver was in fact intoxicated at the time of the accident. Other means of determining sobriety include a breathalyzer and a timeline of events leading up to the accident. For example, if a person was known to be drinking at a bar, that may be a good indication of intoxication.