The Dangers of Drunk Driving in Tennessee

Regardless of how strict laws and penalties become, drunk driving continues to be a problem in Tennessee. While many people think they can simply pay their fees or serve the required jail time if caught driving while impaired, the reality is that accident victims and their families are the ones heavily impacted by these individuals’ negligent actions for many years to come.

How common is drunk driving in Tennessee?

Drunk driving is, unfortunately, very common in Tennessee. According to WKRN.com, Tennessee was recently ranked 12^th for being the worst state for drunk driving. The study mentioned in the news article found that 26.75 percent of car accident deaths are due to drinking and driving. Other alarming statistics mentioned were:

• 53 drunk drivers are involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.
• 15 people are killed in collisions involving a drunk driver per 100,000 licensed drivers.
• 11 arrests were made for drunk driving per 100,000 licensed drivers.

Data from Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024) illustrates the following:

• One in three fatal car accidents involved a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge.
• One in seven serious injury car accidents involved a DUI charge.
• One in two DUI car accidents either resulted in serious injury or fatalities.
• The age group with the most DUIs is 20 to 39 (44.61 percent), followed by 35 to 49 (28.86 percent).

Why is drunk driving so dangerous?

Drunk driving is so dangerous because when alcohol enters the bloodstream, it can severely impact a driver’s ability to safely maneuver and drive a vehicle. As a result, drunk drivers tend to drive extremely carelessly and recklessly, putting themselves and others on the road in immediate danger. Here are some of the effects of drunk driving that make it so dangerous:

• Slow or reduced reaction times
• Lack of judgment
• Vision issues
• Difficulties focusing and concentrating
• Trouble controlling motor functions
• Mental and physical impairment
• Inability to solve problems or make decisions
• Falling asleep or passing out behind the wheel
• Challenges following traffic laws, moving with the traffic, and avoiding accident risks

To spot a drunk driver on the roadway in Chattanooga, you should look out for any signs of weaving in and out of traffic, swaying between the lines of the road, running off the side of the road, riding or hugging the centerline, late reaction to hitting the brakes or slowing down at stop signs or traffic lights, speeding or driving too slowly, and more. If you believe that you might be driving near a drunk driver, it is recommended to give them plenty of space and distance, move past them as quickly as possible, or allow them to go around you.

How would a person know if they are too drunk or impaired to drive?

The state of Tennessee has a BAC limit of 0.08 percent for adults who are above the legal drinking age of 21. While we do not have internal tests that tell us when we reach 0.08 percent, individuals should know that it only takes a few alcoholic beverages to reach 0.08 percent. Less for smaller individuals. By the time an individual reaches 0.08 percent, they start to experience focus and concentration issues, lack of judgment, reduced reaction times, and more.

How does drunk driving affect accident victims and their families?

Physical effects: Most of the time, the injuries suffered by victims are severe and catastrophic. For example, they may suffer a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple broken bones, internal organ damage, and more. As a result, the victim may need to be hospitalized, undergo several surgeries, and attend physical therapy appointments regularly. In some cases, victims become permanently disabled and require around-the-clock medical care, which can be extremely expensive.

Mental effects: Drunk driving accidents are not only initially terrifying, but dealing with the aftermath of these accidents and accepting your new reality can be overwhelming, exhausting, and devastating. Therefore, accident victims may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other lifelong mental effects. Some individuals may even develop amaxophobia, which is the fear of driving. These effects impact the accident victim’s life and their close family members and loved ones as they may require strong understanding, support, validation, assistance, and more.

Financial effects: Accident victims who have been hit by a drunk driver usually experience serious financial effects. This is because their medical bills, prescription costs, rehabilitation fees, and auto repair expenses may continue to accumulate. However, since they are likely out of work and recovering from their injuries, they do not have any income flowing in to help pay for any of these accident-related expenses. As a result, their families may have to work overtime, leading to serious burnout and fatigue. In addition, if family members have to stay home and help the victim recover, the financial effects can become mentally and emotionally taxing as they may begin to watch their savings and emergency funds disappear. Unfortunately, when this happens, it can lead to years or decades of financial instability and hardships.

Injuries caused by a drunk driver should be compensated by the at-fault driver. You should not be on the hook for the financial losses. The Chattanooga drunk driving accident attorneys at Wagner Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers have the experience necessary to investigate the crash and determine who was at fault for your injuries. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your first meeting with one of our lawyers at no cost today. We serve clients in Chattanooga, Cleveland, and North Georgia.