Common Types of Accidents Caused By Drunk Drivers

While nobody wants to be injured in any type of motor vehicle accident or crash, accidents involving impaired drivers tend to be the most terrifying type of crash to be involved in. Drunk driving or DUI type accidents tend to result in more fatalities than any other type of car accident. Data from the National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that in 2018, there were 10,874 fatalities in alcohol-related car accidents which amounted to about 30% of all fatalities reported in car accidents for the year. Most drivers who are fortunate enough to make it out of a drunk driving accident alive are more likely to have sustained serious personal injuries in the accident. Oftentimes, serious injuries can materialize almost anywhere and at anytime without warning.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the car accident, victims can sustain serious and severe life threatening injuries in impaired driving accidents. The consumption of alcohol severely limits a driver’s ability to properly operate a vehicle and can affect a driver’s judgment, coordination, reaction time, and more. Overall, bringing a Florida personal injury lawsuit in the aftermath of an accident caused by a drunk driver involves many different technicalities and potential challenges. Therefore, if you or someone you love has been injured in a DUI accident, you should seek the help of an experienced Florida car accident attorney. Call the Law Offices of Suarez & Montero today to find out if you are entitled to damages for your injuries. A driver may think that they are fine to drive but impaired drivers lack the proper judgment, response time and reflexes to be able to respond quickly if another driver makes a sudden movement or if there are any sudden changes on the road. In sum, a person who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol does not have the same capabilities as a sober driver. In this blog post, we will share some of the most common types of accidents caused by impaired drivers.

Here’s a helpful infographic to help visualize the different types of accidents caused by drunk drivers:

Head-on Accidents

The most common form of a head-on car crash is where both cars are traveling in different directions on the same road and strike one another. This may occur when one driver is distracted by their phone, not paying attention to the road, or drowsy and crosses the center line, placing the vehicle directly in the path of opposing traffic. Drunk drivers can become lethargic or simply fall asleep while behind the wheel and this can sometimes cause head on car accidents. Additionally, head on accidents can sometimes be caused because an impaired driver may have an obstructed view of the roadway or is unable to properly interpret traffic signs and signals.

Rear-end Accidents

When a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking, the driver’s capacity to discern distances is severely diminished and his reaction time slowed. This can lead to drivers being unable to quickly respond when another driver on the road stops abruptly. Drunk drivers may also inaccurately believe that they can safely slow down and stop when they can’t.

Pedestrian Accidents

An impaired driver who doesn’t have a good view of the roadway or intersection might not see a pedestrian crossing the street. The risk of this happening increases tenfold at night.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Dialing, texting, and speaking on cell phones distracts a driver’s attention. It only takes a couple of seconds of inattention for a car to veer into oncoming traffic.

Unsafe Passing Accidents

On two-lane roads and highways, the driver of a passing car must be careful when sliding into the oncoming lane of traffic. When a driver is operating a vehicle after drinking, it becomes almost possible to execute these types of maneuvers with precision and as a result, accidents are caused. Particularly, this occurs because if an intoxicated driver of the passing vehicle doesn’t see an oncoming car or miscalculates the speed or distance of oncoming traffic, they may not have the time or clearance to move back into the proper lane before causing an accident.

Motor vehicle accidents and automobile accidents are a common occurrence in Florida. Sadly, accidents are extremely common in Miami-Dade County and Broward County as they are heavily populated. While some accidents are minor, other accidents can result in serious injury. A personal injury can occur in a variety of ways, but almost all have the same results in common. If you or a loved one was recently involved in a car accident, you may be facing medical bills, property damage, lost time at work, pain and discomfort, emotional stress, and uncertainty as to your future financial stability due to injury-related expenses. Fortunately, when someone else’s negligent actions cause an accident, resulting in injury, the negligent party becomes liable for his or her actions. The expertise and experience of a personal injury lawyer can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case and can help obtain compensation for your damages. The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero can help alleviate your concerns as our lawyers are widely known within the legal profession for our lengthy and successful record and service to our clients.

Here are some of the types of Accident Cases We Handle: