Posted in Drunk Driving,Tennessee Accident Law on April 14, 2016
Injuries Reported after Drunk Driving Accident in Nashville on Sunday
A woman suffered serious injuries after the driver of the vehicle she was riding in lost control of the car, causing it to careen off the roadway and into a ditch.
According to a report by WSMV.com, the accident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning on Franklin Pike and Kirkwood Avenue.
Officers with Metro Nashville Police investigated the accident scene and determined that the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. The female passenger who was injured was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to receive treatment, and her injuries are considered non-life-threatening at this time.
The accident is still under investigation, and no additional details have been released.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Ability to Drive Safely?
Thanks to campaigns by organizations like the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, most people are aware of the dangers of driving or operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. But many people may not be aware of the exact ways that alcohol can impair driving ability, putting them and others on the roadway at risk of serious injuries.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys have handled countless accident claims over the years that involve drunk drivers, and we know that alcohol consumption can contribute to crashes at all levels of intoxication:
As you begin to approach the legal limit of .08 percent BAC, you’ll experience several noticeable effects, including a decline in visual function—which can make it more difficult to estimate the speed and movements of vehicles around you—as well as a reduced ability to effectively multi-task. You also may experience more difficulty keeping your vehicle traveling in a straight line.
Once your BAC reaches and exceeds .08 percent, you are considered over the limit and can be arrested for driving under the influence. The effects of alcohol on your driving ability at this level of intoxication include difficulty concentrating, difficulty maintaining a steady speed, and reduced muscular coordination.
Reaching a BAC that’s around double the legal limit puts you at a much higher risk of being involved in an accident, and the effects it has on your ability to drive are significant. Once you reach a BAC of around .15 percent, you may experience substantial impairment in your ability to control your vehicle and make sound judgments while behind the wheel. In addition, you may experience blurry vision, significantly impaired reaction times, and a lack of inhibition that can lead to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.
As your level of alcohol consumption increases, so will the severity of its effects on your brain, your mental state, and your decision-making process. At very high levels of intoxication, you can even be at risk of losing consciousness while behind the wheel. However, you and other drivers don’t have to be highly intoxicated to pose significant threats to yourselves and other drivers on the road. The CDC reports that alcohol-related accidents where intoxicated drivers had BACs of all levels accounted for one-third of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2014.
Staying safe behind the wheel means always following the rules of the road, always buckling up and keeping your vehicle in good condition, and always getting a cab or using a designated driver when you’re over the legal limit.
While it’s vital that you do your part to keep yourself, your loved ones, and other drivers safe on the roads in Middle Tennessee by drinking responsibly, other drivers don’t always make the same good decisions as you. If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident that was caused by a drunk, impaired, or intoxicated driver, we may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To find out how we can fight for your rights, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form.
