How Many Drinks it Takes to Increase Your Risk of a Drunk Driving Accident

Everyone knows that drunk driving is illegal and can have grave consequences, such as Vermont car accidents. Even though this is a commonly held truth, in many studies at least half of all drinkers have admitted to driving after consuming a few alcoholic drinks. Given this statistic, it is not surprising that about three of every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some point in their lives. According to a study by AAA, every year alcohol plays a factor in nearly half of all highway deaths.

Based on AAA’s study, the odds of a 150-pound male over twenty-one years of age being involved in a drunk driving accident are as follow:
 

• 1-2 drinks: Odds nearly double
• 3-4 drinks: Odds increase 3-7 times
• 5-6 drinks: Odds increase 13-20 times
• 7-8 drinks: Odds increase 55-85 times

After two drinks for an average 150-pound person, reactions become slower, after three drinks, judgment is adversely affected, and after four drinks hearing, speech, eyesight and balance are all negatively impacted. After five drinks almost every behavior is impaired.

While it is often difficult to determine when someone’s judgment is no longer sound, or when their reactions are slower, AAA lists some signs of drunk driving that you can watch out for:
 

• Driving too slow or too fast
• Continuously driving over the centerline
• Inconsistent signaling
• Swerving or weaving in and out of lanes
• Rapid accelerating and braking
• Driving with the headlights off when it’s dark outside
• Making inappropriate wide turns
• Stopping suddenly for now reason
• Driving into oncoming traffic
• Tailgating other vehicles
• Illegal turning

Car accidents in New Hampshire and Vermont are difficult situations for everyone, especially when alcohol in involved. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you need to contact an experienced Orford, New Hampshire personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Van Dorn & Curtiss at (877) 611-9622 for a free consultation.

We represent car accident cases in Western New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont, including the counties of Essex, Caledonia, Orange, Windsor, Windham, Coos, Grafton, Sullivan, Cheshire, and Merrimack.