Driving under the influence or while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs leads to many serious risks and can lead to devastating injuries or even deaths. Driving while impaired with alcohol has been shown to impair one’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to process changing driving conditions on the road. Every day, 29 people die in motor vehicle accidents in the United States that involve an alcohol-impaired driver according to the CDC. This equates to one death every 50 minutes, and the annual cost of car accidents involving alcohol totals more than $44 billion according to the CDC.
A recent news article reports that a car accident happened in the area of Willows Road and Abberly Crest Lane in Lexington Park in Maryland. It was a rear-end crash and deputies found one person unresponsive when they arrived at the scene. A preliminary investigation determined that a car traveling northbound was struck in the rear end by another car, which was operated by an 18-year-old male. The 18-year-old driver was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries. An initial investigation found that speed and alcohol played a role in the accident.
In the state of Maryland, driving under the influence (DUI) has different consequences than driving while impaired (DWI). In Maryland, a person may be charged with a DUI if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is .08 percent or higher, which is called under the influence per se. A DUI conviction will result in 12 points on your license, which can result in a license revocation. In Maryland, a DWI holds slightly lesser consequences. A DWI charge involves a BAC that is .07 percent and when the driver is presumed impaired.
Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the central nervous system, which includes the brain. It has been proven to interfere with the brain’s communication pathways and can make it harder for the brain to control balance, memory, speech, cand judgment. Alcohol slows down reflexes, impacts a person’s ability to concentrate, decreases a person’s ability to steer the vehicle safely, and decreases a person’s ability to properly use the gas or brake pedals. In addition, alcohol relaxes the eye muscles, which can cause blurred vision and an inability to react at a normal speed. While driving, alcohol can affect a person’s ability to properly follow road signs and rules.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Maryland or Washington, D.C. car accident, contact the Schupak Law Firm today. Our attorneys have years of experience and are determined to help their clients recover the damages they deserve. In addition to motor vehicle accidents, our firm handles cases involving medical malpractice, slip and falls, product liability, nursing home neglect, police misconduct, wrongful death, construction defects, vehicle accidents, birth injury, and medication errors. Contact our office at 240-833-3914 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.