Driving a car take a lot of attention and skill. People have to use their body to react to what they see and hear. Often, decisions need to be made in split seconds. The wrong decisions can lead to serious injuries to the driver, passengers and others on or near the roadway. In some cases, car accidents can even be fatal.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol can be extremely dangerous because it slows people’s ability to make quick decisions. It also makes it harder for people to physically react to the dangers they encounter on the roads.
According the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, driving with a blood alcohol content level of .08 percent or higher is illegal in the state. People who operate cars, trucks or boats with a BAC level over the legal limit can be criminally charged for their actions, especially if they cause a drunk driving accident. In fact, within three hours of the crash a person that causes an accident can be arrested for DUI without a warrant if the officer has probable cause.
Those facing DUI charges can be sentenced with a variety of criminal punishments if convicted. These include fines, jail time, drivers’ license revocation, mandatory alcohol education classes, an ignition interlock device and a criminal record.
While these penalties can deter some people from drinking and driving, other people take the risk and cause car accidents. These criminal punishments do very little for those injured in the accident. A civil suit, on the other hand, can help provide justice for drunk driving accident victims. With the help of an attorney, these people can get compensation for their injuries and hold the drunk driver responsible.