Out Drinking? Take Public Transportation to Prevent Tragedy
Drunk driving destroys families. In 2012, 344 New Yorkers died in car accidents involving drunk drivers. Earlier this year, a Queens mother watched helplessly as her husband and two children died as flames engulfed their car after being involved in a collision with an allegedly drunk driver.
Many individuals involved in collisions with drunk drivers suffer significant injuries. These injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities. In less dramatic cases, a victim’s injuries merely keep him or her out of work for a few weeks. In any case, where an individual suffers an injury in an automobile accident, he or she is entitled to seek monetary compensation for his or her losses through a personal injury claim.
How Much is Too Much?
In New York and the rest of the United States, an individual over the age of 21 may not operate a motor vehicle if his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% or higher. Individuals under 21 may not operate a vehicle if their BAC is .02% or higher. Operating a vehicle when one’s BAC is over the legal limit is grounds for a DWI charge. The penalties for a DWI conviction in New York can include fines, jail time, and a driver’s license suspension.
Every individual handles alcohol differently. Some people show signs of intoxication after only one drink while others appear completely sober after five or six. No matter how a person behaves while drinking, his or her BAC rises with each drink and lowers at an approximate rate of .15% per hour for every hour he or she does not drink. These rates are approximate – there are a few factors that can affect how quickly an individual absorbs and metabolizes alcohol. Generally, women absorb alcohol more quickly than men and metabolize it more slowly. This is partial because they tend to weigh less, but also due to the fact that women’s bodies contain less dehydrogenase than men’s. Dehydrogenase is the enzyme in the stomach that breaks down alcohol. Other factors that can affect an individual’s BAC are the rate at which he or she is consuming alcohol and whether he or she is eating food while he or she is drinking.
In a city like New York where public transportation is easily accessible, there is no reason to put others in danger by driving drunk. If you know you will be consuming alcohol, plan to take the subway or the bus home afterward. If a friend drinks too much and plans to drive, keep him or her from driving and instead offer to pay for his or her cab or public transportation fare to ensure he or she gets home safely.
Auto Accident Lawyers in Brooklyn
Contact our team of experienced auto accident lawyers at Peters Berger Koshel & Goldberg, P.C. to discuss the circumstances of your auto accident and how you can seek monetary compensation for your losses during your free legal consultation with our firm. The effects of an injury sustained in an accident involving a drunk driver can significantly impact your life for years to come, possibly for the rest of your life. Get the compensation you deserve by working with an experienced Brooklyn auto accident lawyer to seek your personal injury claim.
Call our firm today at 1-800-836-7801 or 718-596-7800 for a free consultation. We are conveniently located at 26 Court Street Suite 2803 in Brooklyn.