According to the NHTSA, 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving accidents every day. This means one life is lost every 39 minutes.
Another statistic says that over 13,000 people were killed in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes in 2022.
Anyone can become a victim of a DUI accident. If you find yourself in such a situation, talk to a drunk driving accident lawyer. They can give you clarity on how lawsuits against drunk drivers work and how to go about filing one.
5 tips to spot a drunk driver
If someone’s driving under the influence of alcohol, there are usually several signs you can use to spot them.
Close calls
Too many close calls where the driver narrowly misses ramming into another car or object on the road are the signs of a drunk driver. If a driver has trouble responding to obstacles on the road and cannot brake on time to avoid them, this is a sign that they are drunk.
Lane trouble
Drunk drivers have trouble sticking to one lane and end up switching lanes erratically. If a driver is intoxicated, they may have trouble driving in the right lane and signaling correctly before changing lanes, or they may switch lanes unnecessarily.
Erratic speeding
A driver who’s unable to stick to the right speed limit – like driving at very low speeds, abruptly accelerating or decelerating without apparent reason, etc.- could mean the driver is under the influence. Alcohol inhibits a person’s ability to judge speeds, so the driver could tailgate or brake suddenly.
Ignoring traffic lights on time
If a driver is unable to respond to traffic signals, like slowing down in time to stop at a red light or driving on a green light, it could indicate intoxication. Being impaired can affect a driver's ability to judge and respond to traffic signals accurately.
Drunk behavior
Certain characteristics, like slurred speech, the smell of alcohol on their breath, an inability to walk straight, etc., can indicate that the driver is drunk. If the driver’s behavior seems out of line with actions that are generally expected from adults in public, they could be intoxicated.
What to do if you spot a drunk driver
You’ve seen someone on the road exhibit some or all of the above behavior. Now what?
First, if you’re driving, you should ensure that you and your fellow passengers are safe. If a drunk driver is ahead of you on the road, you should slow down and take another route if possible. If that's not an option available to you, you should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle.
If you're ahead of the driver, see if you can switch to another lane or if there's a place where you can stop.
Next, make sure you take down the car's details. Then call 911 and report the driver to the police, detailing where you spotted them and where they were going. DUIs are considered a misdemeanor in most states and can be charged as a felony if the driver injures someone.
Conclusion
Alcohol or other drugs can severely impair a driver’s ability to drive safely. There’s a high chance they could cause an accident. Being aware of the signs of drunk driving can help save your life and that of others around you. If you spot a drunk driver, be sure to report them to the police.
Also, if you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, get medical help immediately. Once that is done, consider hiring a drunk driving accident lawyer. You need professional legal help to tackle the challenges involved in a drunk driving accident claim and get the compensation you deserve.
