Drunk driving is treated as a criminal activity because it is more than simple negligence. Drunk driving is an act of recklessness, committed knowingly by an individual who believes that he or she is above the law or is above making mistakes simply due to intoxication. The truth is that case after case and study after study has proven that regardless of alcohol tolerance, certain levels of intoxication simply affect an individual in too many ways that make it dangerous for them to drive.
These dangers apply to more than just the person who is choosing to drive drunk. Other drivers who are sharing the road with a drunk driver are in extremely dangerous positions. While you can generally predict and react to normal drivers on the road, drunk drivers are erratic, and they make strange, reckless and unpredictable decisions. There are some people who simply drank too much and don't want to pay for a cab. Unfortunately, with most drunk drivers, they are people who have no qualms about making dangerous decisions and endangering the lives of others. Simply choosing to drive drunk proves this.
Tennessee highway patrol recently arrested a middle-aged man for multiple vehicle-related offenses, including speeding, driving with a revoked license and DUI. What is most concerning is that this is the man's fifth DUI offense, indicating a marked lack of concern for his own well-being and the well-being of other drivers on the road.
Individuals who are habitually convicted of DUI offenses often pose a threat to other drivers, especially because drunk driving accidents could be more severe than accidents that did not involve alcohol. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation, especially if the drunk driver is convicted. If a driver is convicted of a DUI, they will almost certainly be held liable for any injuries you suffer in an accident. Consider meeting with an attorney to learn more about how another driver's DUI conviction could impact your accident case.
Source: The Greeneville Sun, "Man Charged With DUI ? 5th Offense," Sept. 18, 2015