With so many people navigating the roads, accidents are bound to happen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32,719 people died in traffic-related accidents in 2013. An estimated 10,076 people died in drunk driving crashes in the same year, which accounted for 31% of all traffic deaths.
Sometimes the people who die in drunk driving accidents aren’t under the influence at all. Instead, these individuals died due to the recklessness of an individual who was in fact intoxicated. Educating yourself on the signs that someone who is inebriated might be operating a vehicle can save not only your life but also the driver’s and other motorists.
Here are a few red flags you can look out for:
- Tailgating
- Rapid acceleration
- Unpredictably braking
- Making very wide turns
- Swerving on or off the road
- Driving into oncoming traffic
- Driving at extremely slow speed
- Driving at night without headlights
- Straddling the center lane of the road
- Narrowly avoiding vehicles, curbs, or objects
- Holding their face closer to the windshield than necessary
If you are driving near a vehicle that you suspect is being operated by someone who is intoxicated, stay out of their way and remain at a safe distance. Find a safe spot that you can stop and call 911 to report the vehicle.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.
