Types of Accidents Caused by Bradenton Drunk Drivers
What Kinds of Accidents Does Driving Under the Influence Cause?
Driving under the influence is one of the most well-known causes of car accidents and regularly kills thousands of people every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drunk driving accidents kill more than 10,000 lives every year. Every driver knows that drunk driving puts them at immense risk of causing an accident and even killing someone or themselves yet millions of drunk drivers get behind the wheel every year. Accidents caused by this kind of negligence are as varied as they are deadly.
Common Types of Accidents Caused by Drunk Driving
Head-On Collisions and Drunk Driving
It is no secret that driving after drinking alcohol can impair your driving skills. Alcohol is a depressant that can slow your reflexes, impair your judgment, decrease your perception, and make your motor functions more sluggish. It also can make you pass out and get lulled into sleep much easier which is very dangerous behind the wheel.
Many drunk drivers end up causing accidents when they drift from their lane into oncoming traffic and cause head-on collisions. Drivers can do this because they pass out behind the wheel or because their inebriation causes them to drift out of their lane. Head-on collisions are some of the most violent and deadly of all car accident types. Two vehicles striking each other because they are traveling in opposite directions at great speed involves particularly intense physical forces.
Rear-End Collisions Caused by Drunk Drivers
Drivers that are drunk have much more trouble correctly judging distances and gauging whether or not they have enough time to stop their vehicle before they hit something; typically a vehicle that is in front of them. A drunk driver's vision is also impaired so they can fail to notice things like stopped cars and motorcycles in front of them and cause an accident. Drunk drivers of very large commercial vehicles like semi-truck drivers can have a particularly hard time avoiding rear-end accidents since their vehicles are significantly heavier and therefore have more momentum that takes them much longer and farther to brake to a complete stop.
Pedestrians Hit by Drunk Drivers
One of the most deadly accidents that can involve drunk drivers are pedestrian accidents. Many Floridians have to get to their destinations on foot and end up getting hit by drivers that are inebriated. Pedestrian accidents often result in fatalities or at the least, catastrophic injury due to the fact that victims are almost entirely unprotected by the chassis of a motor-vehicle colliding with them. Many pedestrian accidents involving drunk drivers involve pedestrians not even walking on the road but on a sidewalk where they end up being hit by a car despite following every rule in the book.
Bradenton Bicycle Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers
Bicyclists are also a group that can potentially be harmed by the negligence of drunk drivers. Bicycles are classified as vehicles that are afforded the same rights as other motor vehicles. Many bicyclists take to the road when there is no bike path or lane available and end up being hit by drunk drivers. Drivers under the influence of alcohol have their vision impaired and end up hitting bicyclists due to their low visibility. Bicycle accidents like these commonly occurs at night.
Boats Crashes and Alcohol Consumption
Controlling a vehicle under the influence is a danger that extends beyond just the road. Florida is a very famous state when it comes to boating as a form of recreation with millions of people traveling here to enjoy the warm and pleasant waters our state affords. However, many people make the mistake of piloting watercraft while under the influence which is one of the top causes of boating accidents in the country. While piloting a boat is not the same as driving a car, the impairment that alcohol consumption causes is applicable in both cases. Boat accidents can be particularly dangerous since emergency response can take much more time and also there is the danger open water poses when a boat is wrecked as well.
Can I Sue Someone Over a Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver then you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries that you suffered by filing a car accident injury claim or lawsuit. While Florida no-fault law ensures those involved in accidents must go through their own insurance first, drunk driving accidents easily inflict injuries that far exceed personal injury protection coverage which makes seeking compensation from those liable for someone's damages a necessity.
Drunk drivers not only are grossly negligent when they get behind the wheel while inebriated. They are also breaking the law which can make proving their negligence in your case a little easier. Drunk drivers can be considered liable for the damages they caused due to an accident that is their fault.
Seek an Experienced Bradenton, Florida Car Accident Attorney
Losing a loved one or watching them suffer as a result of a drunk driver can be one of the most painful experiences of your life. It is one thing to suffer injuries as the result of a car accident when it was truly an accident. It is another thing, however, when an irresponsible and reckless driver takes to the road knowing that he or she is potentially endangering the life of an innocent. You have a right to compensation and the attorneys of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can assist you in ensuring that you not only get the compensation that you deserve but also in ensuring that those responsible for your damages are held accountable for their actions.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunk driving accident, contact the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, your premier car accident and personal injury lawyers in the Bradenton Area. With offices across both Florida coasts, you can easily reach Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, and Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, at (941) 961-8841, or you can write to us using our online contact page.
Bradenton Office
6703 14th Street West Suite 207
Bradenton, FL 34207
Phone: (941) 961-8841
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/bradenton-drunk-driving-accident-lawyer/
Matthew Dolman
Personal Injury Lawyer
This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits. Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.
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