Vehicle Involved in a Rivergrade Accident Rolled 300 Feet Down Embankment
An alleged intoxicated driver suffered minor injuries in a December 7 accident in Auburn. The collision occurred in the area of Rivergrade during the evening hours, according to officers with the Auburn Police Department. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, as well as firefighters, also arrived at the scene of the collision. Authorities discovered that the vehicle had crashed and rolled down a 300-foot embankment after rolling several times.
Emergency Responders Transport Driver to Sutter Roseville
Emergency responders helped get the driver out and transported their patient to Sutter Roseville for the treatment of injuries. The report did not state whether the driver was then placed under arrest for DUI. Initial contact with the driver, as well as observations, led officers to believe that alcohol impairment might have been a factor in why the crash occurred.
Drunk Driving Leads to Many Accidents
Because alcohol consumption affects judgment, slows reflexes, and impairs reasoning, others sharing the roadway are not safe with an intoxicated driver around. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, intoxicated motorists took the lives of more than 10,000 people in 2019, and over 300,000 individuals are injured every year. When a drunk driver caused your injuries or took the life of your loved one, that person can be held responsible.
Why Is Drunk Driving Dangerous?
When an intoxicated driver takes to the road, they endanger not only themself but also everyone else they encounter. Drunk driving greatly affects how you make judgments, avert hitting another vehicle or maintain your lane. Some areas where a drunk driver is significantly affected are:
- Slowed reaction time: A drunk driver has a slower reaction time than when sober. On the road, this makes them less likely to avoid hitting another vehicle that stops suddenly in front of them. It also means that if a car veers into their lane, the intoxicated driver will not be able to maneuver away from it and avoid an accident. Likewise, if a pedestrian runs out into the road ahead, chances are high the drunk driver will hit them.
- Lack of coordination: When a driver is impaired, they will experience a lack of eye, hand and foot coordination. An intoxicated driver is usually given warning signs that their coordination is off. They may not be able to walk straight, stand without leaning to one side or the other or have trouble using their keys.
- Poor judgment: Generally, alcohol affects a drinker’s judgment and increases their ability to make bad decisions. For example, an intoxicated driver knows full well that they should not drive. However, they decide to get behind the steering wheel. This can become a decision that will haunt them and others for the remainder of their lives. In addition, the drunk driver has a short attention span, so the desire to make a phone call or text may take precedence over paying attention to the road. This distraction can lead to an unfortunate situation.
- Vision difficulties: A drunk driver may have trouble seeing clearly or have control over their eye movements. This can have a devastating effect on safety.
- Increase the risk of a car accident: The more alcohol a driver consumes, the higher the risk of accidents. A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 has a 25 times higher risk of accident involvement.
Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn personal injury lawyer. Drunk or drugged drivers are a factor in many injury accidents every year. If you were injured due to one, call us for our free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. We can review your case, answer your questions and tell you about options to recover damages. We can also be reached online if you prefer.
Our firm ensures you have a successful resolution to your case by sending our investigators to gather needed evidence about the accident. We use accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability, interview witnesses, and review police reports for mistakes.
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Our team of injury lawyers has helped many Auburn residents to obtain fair compensation for all varieties of traffic accidents, wrongful death cases, and other claims since 1982.
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Photo attribution: Image by Rico Löb from Pixabay
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