How to Minimize Your Chances of Being Injured by a Drunk Driver

All of us have at one time or another decided to head out to spend time with friends or family, and not many of us stop to consider some of the risks involved with such a plan. Most of us are responsible citizens in that we avoid drinking and driving, but we obviously cannot control the actions of others who may not make the same responsible choice.

The only choices that remain are to never leave home and to constantly live in fear or to take some protective steps that minimize the chance that we will be harmed by a drunk driver with the knowledge that there are laws in place that protect us and provide us legal rights. Below are a few ideas to keep in mind that could help you avoid a disastrous situation.

The first and most obvious idea to keep in mind is that as we drive, we need to be vigilant of others. Make sure that you take note of anyone who may not be holding a steady line on the road, who may be swaying or who otherwise appears to be shaky behind the wheel. Whether this person has been drinking or not, it’s still a good idea to be as aware of them as possible.

You should also take whatever steps are necessary to provide as much room between you and that person as possible. This could even involve turning off and taking another road to your destination, but if that’s not possible then simply avoid getting close to that person. Every foot of distance between you and that driver will provide you with more time to take evasive measures if such maneuvers become necessary. In these situations, every fraction of a second matters quite a bit.

If you’re convinced that someone is driving under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxicant, you should alert the police so that they can report to the scene and conduct their own investigation. Taking this step may not only help to prevent an accident, but it could save lives. The police will know what to do if you let them know what’s happening.

One thing that you do not want to do is to make moves that could agitate or even confuse that drunk driver. Do not flash your lights, do not attempt to communicate with that driver, and do not make any unpredictable moves yourself. Instead, just hang back, lower your speed to whatever is necessary to avoid approaching this person and take your time getting to wherever you’re going. Those extra few minutes on the road could prove to be well worth your safety.

Despite all of these steps that many people take, there are still too many who are injured badly in crashes caused by drunk drivers. If you are one of these people, contact the Alaska injury lawyers at Barber and Associates, LLC today to schedule a free initial consultation.