When anyone decides to drive a car in Arizona, they agree to follow the state’s driving rules or to be held responsible if they fail to do so. Many of these rules are common sense and are the same across the nation while others are more unique to the valley. Basic rules like stopping at a red light and proceeding on a green light rarely lead to confusion but many drivers are not clear of what constitutes intoxication to the point where it becomes illegal to drive.
Phoenix personal injury lawyers regularly handled cases where an accident was caused by a drunk or impaired driver who should never have been on the road, yet when these people are charged for their actions, often they claim that they did not realize their blood alcohol content or that they felt fine to drive.
Arizona uses an objective and subjective standard to determine alcohol impairment among drivers, which means that impairment can vary among people. In the state, a driver is considered to be under the influence of alcohol if his or her blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater. However, if alcohol in a driver’s system is lower than that level but the alcohol still impairs the driver’s ability to operate a car, that driver can also be guilty of driving under the influence.
The rules are strict and the consequences severe. Not only is a drunk driver likely to face traffic or criminal charges for driving under the influence but that driver is also more likely to cause an accident. If an accident leaves another with personal injuries, the drunk driver can also be liable for those damages, whether they are for medical bills and expenses or wages that victim was unable to earn while hurt.
Often, drunk drivers think that they won’t be caught and therefore will not face any consequences for their actions, but in truth, thousands of drivers are cited for driving drunk every year. The odds of being caught increase dramatically, though, when the suspected drunk driver crashes into a police officer’s car while the police officer is inside, as happened recently in Casa Grande.
A Pinal County Sheriff’s Officer had pulled over a suspected drunk driver near the intersection of Pearl Road and Cottonwood Lane and called for backup, with a second officer arriving in a second car. As the first deputy prepared to exit his vehicle to speak with the alleged drunk driver, a 22-year-old female in the area crashed her car into the deputy’s vehicle, causing a significant impact.
The female driver and her 23-year-old male passenger were both believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and were arrested, the passenger for an unrelated, outstanding warrant and the driver for aggravated assault, criminal damage, and driving while impaired. Fortunately no one was hurt in the crash.
If an automobile collision leaves you injured, you have legal rights that may include the right to a financial recovery for your damages. Call the Phoenix drunk driving injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us provide you with a free, no obligation case consultation. We keep a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and at Abels & Annes, P.C., we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf. Call us today at (602) 819-5191 and let us help you get a recovery you deserve.
Prior Blog Entries:
Plans in Place for a Valley Bike Share Program, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 30, 2013.
Suspected Impaired Driver Causes Rollover Crash that Injures 5, 2 Critically, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 28, 2013.
Resources:
Alleged drunk driver slams into PCSO vehicle with deputy, canine inside, Fox 10 News, published November 4, 2013.