DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT A DRUNK DRIVER ON THE ROAD?

As a responsible driver, you know that you should never get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Even if you think you’re sober enough to drive, you realize that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, there are other people who don’t take this approach. Rather than exercise an extreme amount of caution, they hit the road after having a few drinks. Subsequently, they increase the likelihood of causing a motor vehicle accident.

Simply put, there is no possible way to spot every drunk driver on the road. Even if you’re paying attention to everything going on around you, a drunk driver could come out of nowhere to cause an accident.

However, there are some signs to watch for. If you see a person acting strangely while behind the wheel, there is a chance that he or she could be under the influence of alcohol. Here are some common signs of drunk driving:

— Quickly accelerating or decelerating

— Driving too close to other vehicles, such as tailgating on the highway

— Drifting from one lane of traffic to another

— Driving on the sidewalk or in a bike lane

— Weaving across the road

— Driving without headlights when it’s dark outside

— Inconsistent use of turn signals

— Making illegal turns

— Driving the wrong way on a one way street

— Driving extremely slow or extremely fast

— Slow response to a traffic signal, such as sitting still after the light turns green

If you have reason to believe that somebody is driving drunk, do these two things:

— Keep your distance as to help prevent an accident

— Contact the police so they can look into the situation

Even though you do your best to avoid driving in close proximity to a drunk driver, you never know when somebody could cause an accident.

If you find yourself in this position, first focus on your health. From there, take the time to learn more about the accident, such as by requesting a copy of the police report.

Finally, turn your attention to your legal rights. You may be able to file a lawsuit in an attempt to receive compensation for injuries and other damages related to the accident.

Source: Nov. 30, -0001

On behalf of Devon DuPuy of Lloyd & DuPuy PLLC on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.