Alcohol-Related Accidents

According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 2003-2012 nearly 4000 people were killed in New York in alcohol-related car accidents. People who are impaired by alcohol tend to exhibit reckless behavior. For example, impaired drivers are more likely to speed or drive too slowly. They are also more likely to drive through stop sides and red lights, make unsafe lane changes, and fail to yield the right of way. All of these negligent behaviors raise the risk of a collision. Because drivers who are impaired often drive recklessly, when they are involved in collisions such collisions are more likely to be head-on or side collisions at high speeds. The result is often catastrophic. A victim of such an injury is likely to suffer a serious injury such as a traumatic brain injury, amputation, broken or crushed bones, or a spinal cord injury. These types of injuries involve long recovery times with expensive treatments and rehabilitation. However, under New York law victims of car accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the car accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a family member was injured in a car accident it is important to contact an experienced Bronx Alcohol-Related Accidents Lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

A driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle is compromised after drinking even a small amount of alcohol. The more alcohol consumed, the more dangerous the driver is to other drivers on the road. For example, after consuming a relatively low amount of alcohol (BAC .02%), people experience a loss of some judgment, are more relaxed and feel warmer. As a result there is a decline in visual functions and a decline in the ability to perform 2 tasks as at one time.

After consuming a moderate amount of alcohol (BAC .05%), people have a loss in small muscle control, have impaired judgment, experience lowered alertness, experience an oddly good feeling, and are less inhibited. As a result there is reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficultly in steering and reduced response to driving emergency situations.

After reaching a BAC of .08%, people have poor muscle coordination, poor reaction time, impaired judgment and impaired self-control. As a result there is poor concentration, short-term memory loss, and impaired perception.

Should someone continue to drink so that his or her BAC climbs her than .08%, his or her ability to safely operate a vehicle continues to decline.

Those injured in car accidents suffer a variety of serious injuries that require extensive treatment. This means substantial medical bills and missed work. However, New York law gives injured victims the right to seek compensation from the negligent party. The types of compensation that you may be able to recover if you file a claim against the negligent person include:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills including bills from the hospital, your doctors, prescriptions and bills associated with medical equipment
• Damage to your vehicle
• Pain and suffering

If a family member was killed in the accident, the law allows the decedent’s personal representative to seek damages through a wrongful death claim

Furthermore, under New York’s Dram Shop rules, you may also be able to bring a claim against the bar, restaurant, or other third party that provided the alcohol to the drunk driver.

Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a personal injury case. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit.

If you were injured in a car accident that you believe was caused because the driver was impaired by alcohol, it is important that you are represented by someone with experience. Car accident cases can be complicated, relying on an understanding of personal injury law as well as procedural rules. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in car accidents, construction accidents, truck accidents, as well as other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.