How seriously can alcohol impact a driver’s abilities?

Millions of Americans drink alcohol – some on a regular basis, some only on “special occasions.” Alcohol is prevalent in American culture. From a scientific and biological standpoint alcohol, once it is consumed, is absorbed through the digestive system and stays in a person’s bloodstream until it is metabolized in the liver. From a functional standpoint, what does alcohol do to a person as it is working its way through the body?

Well, for starters, a person’s central nervous system is impacted by alcohol in the body. This means that a person’s brain can be directly affected by alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol use – at almost any level of consumption – can include impaired muscle coordination, as well as impaired reaction times, reasoning and even impairment of basic thinking capabilities.

With all of these potential problems, it is easy to see why alcohol and driving simply do not mix. A driver’s abilities to function properly behind the wheel of a vehicle can be seriously jeopardized by alcohol intake, especially heavy alcohol use. If a driver is impaired by alcohol consumption, the potential danger of a devastating motor vehicle accident is obvious.

Considering your legal options

If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by an intoxicated driver, you may have legal options to consider. A personal injury lawsuit could result in an award of financial compensation to help cover the costs of medical bills, lost time at work and many other expenses that are commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents. For more information about how our law firm attempts to help Utah residents who are facing these legal issues, please visit the drunk driving overview section of our website.