What Percent of Car Accidents Are Caused By Drunk Driving?

In 2016, the Maryland legislature passed the Drunk Driving Reduction Act or “Noah’s Law.” This states that any driver convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is required to install an ignition device in their car. The law is named after Noah Leotta, a police officer killed at a DUI checkpoint. It is also a clear indication that despite all the attention, drunk driving is still a major concern for anyone on the road. It leads to catastrophic car crashes in Baltimore. What percent of car accidents are caused by drunk driving in Maryland?

According to data collected by the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, the percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in Maryland is 32.1%. That translates to 167 deaths attributed to DUIs. The national percentage is 28.1%, with a total of 10,142 deaths.

Crossing the BAC Line

A person arrested for driving under the influence will have crossed the blood alcohol content (BAC) line of .08. The BAC is a blood test that is typically administered after an arrest for suspicion of a DUI. A driver can be asked to take a breathalyzer test in the field. That provides an estimate of BAC, but the official blood test is the only way to confirm the level.

• The amount of alcohol in your system will depend on the following factors:
• The number of drinks you consume.
• How fast you drink
• The amount of food you ate before drinking
• Age
• Weight

A drink is often defined as 12 ounces of beer, one shot of liquor, or 4 ounces of wine. A study conducted at the University of Arizona found that you could reach .08 BAC with 2-4 drinks in an hour.

What happens when your BAC levels go up? Consider the following:

• BAC .02 – At this level, you feel relaxed and experience a slight loss of judgment.
• BAC .05 – When you reach this level, you will start to feel more uninhibited and have an increased judgment impairment.
• BAC .08 – This is the level that is considered a DUI. It can manifest in reduced hand-to-eye coordination and more significant impairment.
• BAC .10 – You could experience slurred speech and diminished thinking with this level.
• BAC .15 – This is when you feel nauseous, lose your balance, and experience confusion.

Consequences of DUI Conviction

The consequences of a DUI conviction are extremely severe. A first-time offender faces up to one year in jail, $1,000 in fines, and six months of license suspension. The jail times, fines, and length of suspension go up with each subsequent offense.

There is also the property damage and devasting injuries that can result in a DUI accident. Typically, in severe accidents, police are called to the scene, and if they suspect a motorist has been involved with a DUI, they could place them under arrest. That arrest report is a public record and will be one of the most critical pieces of evidence in a personal injury lawsuit. It is hard to dispute a BAC report.

Getting Support

If you or a loved one are the victim in a drunk driving accident in Baltimore, you must speak with the team at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC. We can provide the guidance to help seek a remedy to cover all economic and noneconomic damages. Our goal is to find a fast and fair resolution to help you move on. Call to book a free consultation to discuss what happened today.