There is a reason why there are laws in place against driving while under the influence of alcohol. For one, alcohol can significantly impact your ability to drive. With this, you are putting yourself, and other innocent drivers on the road, in danger. Continue reading to learn how alcohol limits your driving capabilities and how an experienced car accident lawyer in Queens at The Law Offices of George Poulos can help you by any means necessary.
How does alcohol impact my capability to drive?
Overall, alcohol impacts your decision-making skills and reaction time, which are pivotal attributes a driver needs when getting behind the wheel.
Firstly, alcohol can impair your judgment. So, while driving under the influence, you may be more inclined to run a red light, speed, or otherwise disobey the rules of the road without fully grasping the dangers associated with doing so.
Secondly, alcohol can impair your concentration. Believe it or not, driving requires a lot of multitasking, as you may have to simultaneously have to remember to watch your speed, use your turn signals, check your blind spots, and read traffic signs, among other things.
Next, alcohol can impair your coordination. That is, it a great deal of skill to measure the best time to brake, change lanes, adjust to make a turn, etc.
And lastly, alcohol can impair your vision. This is because it will relax the muscles that control your eyes, while also diminishing your peripheral vision. It is necessary to use your peripherals to check for potential hazards on the side of the road, look out for motor vehicles you are sharing the road with, see pedestrians approaching the crosswalk, and read traffic signs, among other things.
What do dram shop laws do for my drunk driving accident?
If a driver is found to have a blood-alcohol content level of 0.08 percent or more, then they may be held accountable for a drunk driving accident. However, if they were found to have been leaving a dram shop (i.e., restaurant or bar) that was serving them alcohol, then the dram shop may also be considered an at-fault party.
That is, violations of New York’s dram shop laws are as follows:
- A dram shop persisted to serve a patron (i.e., a drunk driver) when they were already visibly intoxicated.
- A dram shop served a patron when they were under the legal drinking age of 21.
- A dram shop served a patron driver after their hours of operation.
- A dram shop served a patron without a valid liquor license to do so.
If you were made a victim of a drunk driver and a negligent dram shop, then you may seek justice via a personal injury claim. Contact one of the skilled Queens personal injury attorneys who will help you in executing this.
