People ask themselves this question all the time. As an attorney who helps those injured by DWI drivers (and has to share the road with them as well), I believe that if a driver has to ask this question, they should get a ride.
The Facts About Beers and Blood-Alcohol Levels
A 180-lb man may be able to drink 3.5 regular 12-ounce beers in one hour and keep his Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) under the legal limit of .08%. Similarly, a 140-lb woman may be able to consume 2.5 regular beers in an hour and maintain a BAC of less than .08%.
Keep in mind that these numbers are general estimates that assume that the average regular beer has a 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) level, and they do not consider other important factors.
The following are known contributing factors to BAC levels:
- an individual’s metabolic rate
- age
- food consumption
- and more
There are also plenty of craft IPAs, stouts, and ales available with higher ABV levels which would impact the amount you can consume and stay under .08%.
But it’s not just about sneaking in under the legal limit.
Why a “Below the Limit” Blood-Alcohol Level Isn’t the Only Concern
In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive while “noticeably impaired” or intoxicated. Blood-alcohol level is not the only consideration!
So, if you, or a loved one, have been injured because of a drunk driver – even if they were technically below the legal limit – you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Drunk Driving Is Impossible to Justify
The ads are everywhere: “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.” And there are plenty of DWI statistics. But it may only hit home for those who have personally felt the effects of drunk driving or who work as auto accident lawyers representing people whose lives have been ripped apart by the real devastation a drunk driver can cause.
Someone Decided They Were Safe to Drive – Then This Happened
I’ll never forget my first drunk driving accident case. It involved a registered nurse on her way home from a long shift at the hospital.
My client was leaving work where she routinely aided her patients. The other driver – the drunk driver – was considered a heavy drinker. The drunk driver ran a red light, striking my client, and my client was unable to work for months due to injury.
I fought for maximum compensation on behalf of my client, including compensation for:
- shoulder surgery
- physical therapy to help her regain her mobility and strength
- the intangibles she suffered in the form of pain and suffering
Also – as a collision involving impaired driving – we sought money from the drunk driver to “punish and deter” him from getting behind the wheel and putting someone else in the community at risk of serious injury or death.
Drunk Driving in the U.S. – The Statistics Are Scary
Look at these national statistics. Read them, but consider that each statistic could be someone you know – a coworker, a friend, or a family member.
Here are some more sobering statistics:
- HTSA Traffic Safety Facts reported that in 2022, every 39 minutes, a death occurred
as a result of a drunk driver whose blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.08 or higher.
That’s 13,524 deaths. - Those 13,524 deaths represented 32% of all traffic fatalities for that year. Simply put,
drunk drivers were behind almost a third of all traffic deaths! - From 2, fatalities from alcohol impaired driving crashes decreased by a mere 0.7%.
The Reality of Drunk Driving in North Carolina
In 2023, there were 12,146 crashes that were related to alcohol. Of those, 8,103 resulted in injury.
The numbers in 2023 are above the 5-year average for alcohol-related crash injuries (7,704). Alcohol-related crashes represent 4.3% of all crashes statewide, according to 2023 statistics from the NCDOT. In 2023, the state also saw 2,999 crashes in which the driver had a BAC level above .15.
Is the Host of a Party Liable if a Guest Drives Away Drunk?
They may be. North Carolina has two applicable laws. One law (18B-121 of North Carolina General Statutes) refers to the responsibility of “dram shops” – bars, clubs, and restaurants. The other is a “social host” law (18B-302 of North Carolina General Statutes). The laws are similar in that they can hold those who serve alcohol to a drunk driver at least partially liable for that driver’s actions.
Essentially, the law says that when an intoxicated guest causes an accident, the injured party may be able to seek damages from the host if certain conditions exist.
More Resources About the Harm of Drunk Driving
We know what alcohol does to the body and brain – it slows reactions, blurs vision, makes people feel brave, and can lead to people taking unnecessary risks. Here are some links worth sharing with friends, family, and others – especially teens and twenty-somethings.
And if you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you don’t have to face this alone. We can handle the drunk driver and their insurer for you. And with us, there are no upfront costs, no hourly fees – and you pay no attorney’s fee at all if we don’t get compensation for you. Guaranteed.2
To ask a real person your questions right now and have your case evaluated for free, call 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online today.
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