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Hit By A Drunk Driver

The Dangers of Being Hit By a Drunk Driver

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Every single day in the U.S, 29 people lose their lives in a car accident by being hit by a drunk driver. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV), in 2018 there were 5,125 alcohol-related car accidents, and sadly 350 people died as a result.

You might recall that we recently wrote about the #2 cause of car accidents here in Florida – distracted driving. Now, let’s look at the #1 cause of car accidents in Florida- drunk driving.

Every time we reach for the car keys we know that driving involves risk. However, that risk drastically increases whenever we have a drink, or share the road with someone affected by alcohol. It’s a sobering fact to think that hundreds of people lose their lives or receive serious injuries every year in Florida because another driver chose to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel of their car

How Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Your Driving?

You might think you’re fine to drive home after a drink or two; however, it’s a known fact that drinking alcohol massively impacts your ability to drive safely. Drunk driving leads to poor decision-making, often with devastating effects.

  • It slows your reaction time, reduces your reflexes and ability to react to unpredictable events, and makes your coordination unreliable.
  • It affects your vision, slows the eye muscle function, and reduces your night vision and depth perception.
  • It messes with your spatial awareness and ability to judge the location of line markings, other vehicles, or road signs.
  • It reduces your alertness, making you drowsy and inattentive.

When you drive when affected by alcohol, your chances are much higher of being involved in a rear-end collision, head-on collision, or hitting a cyclist or pedestrian. 

Florida’s Zero Tolerance For Drunk Driving

Because of these drunk driving accidents and fatalities, an effort has been made over the last few years to protect drivers and curb drunk driving. Florida enforces strict laws such as:

  1. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Standards

In Florida, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.8% or higher if you’re aged 21 or over. Being charged with a DUI in Florida could lead to fines, license suspension, jail time, community service, or vehicle impoundment. This all affects your record, wallet, and perhaps even your career.

  1. Sobriety Checkpoints

Officers in Florida set up regular checkpoints to check for signs of impairment in drivers. Florida operates under an applied consent law, so that means that when you drive you agree to a blood-alcohol or a breath-alcohol test – if you refuse a test your license will be suspended for a year regardless of whether you’re charged or not.

Helping You Pick Up The Pieces

To anyone who has been hit by a drunk driver, we understand the devastation this may have caused you. From the loss of life to physical suffering such as whiplash and broken bones and emotional trauma– the impact can be overwhelming. 

You may be dealing with medical bills, loss of income, damage to your vehicle, or all of the above. You deserve compensation for this, and we are experienced in this area.

At Jenkins Law P.L we can fight for what you are entitled to and help you to get your life back. Call to see what we can do for you. (866) 668-4182

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