Drunk Driving in Arizona

There are many distractions on all roads across the United States, and Arizona is no different. We have a beautiful backdrop of red canyons and almost endless forests of cactus that are not only breathtaking but can be very distracting for those that are unfamiliar with our state. Arizona sees an influx of tourism; add this on top of local traffic and trucks transporting goods, and there is a high likelihood of accidents occurring.

Many factors can lead to accidents, and even when you are driving as defensively and safely as possible, you may still find yourself injured from a car accident due to the negligence of another party. When alcohol is incorporated on the road, the risks of accidents increases substantially. Across the country, drunk driving is the cause of 40% of all fatal accidents.

Statistics

Drunk driving is a serious issue across our country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every 50 minutes, a drunk driver kills another party on the road. In 2016, in the United States, there were 10,497 fatalities from drunk driving accidents. Outside of these tragic and unnecessary losses, there were over one million drivers who were put under arrest from driving while inebriated during the same year. 

In 2017, the Arizona Department of Transportation reported that there were 4,854 accidents that were caused by drunk driving, and this reckless behavior also led to 3,095 injuries and 320 fatalities. The urban areas in and around Reno and Las Vegas have the highest amount of car accidents in the state.

How Alcohol Impairs Drivers

The brain is severely impacted when alcohol is ingested. Your thinking becomes unclear, your ability to reason is fuzzy, balance issues are thrown off, muscle coordination becomes impaired, motor functions are much slower. It is harder to anticipate and make reasonable decisions. The central nervous system becomes more sedated as the alcohol level increases in the bloodstream.

The blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is the measurement of how much alcohol is in your system, and it is used by authorities to determine if a driver is legally able to drive on the road. When a BAC is 0.08% or higher, it becomes illegal for a driver to operate a motor vehicle in every state in the country.

Arizona Penalties

When you are pulled over for intoxicated driving and are charged with a DUI, there are some stiff penalties associated with this offense. If you are a first-time offender, you could face up to 10 days incarcerated on top of your license being suspended for at least 90 days. There is also a $250 fine associated with it. 

Repeat offenders have considerably higher penalties. When you have been charged a second time, you will be looking at up to 90 days in jail, one year of license suspension, and a heavy $500 fine. Those who are caught for the third time can see four months of jail time with at least $750 in fines, and they will have a suspended license for at least one year.

If these penalties don’t seem to make an impact on repeat drunk drivers, there is the possibility of losing driving privileges forever, should the crimes continue.

Drunk Driving Accidents in Arizona

Drunk driving accidents can cause a plethora of sad and negative outcomes including severe injuries or death. When you have been injured by a drunk driver you need the aggressive representation of the Arizona serious injury lawyers at ELG Law to represent your interests and fight for your rights. If you have lost a loved one, a wrongful death attorney at ELG Law can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call our Phoenix or Mesa Arizona law offices today at 623-562-3838.