Arkansas Injury Lawyer Blog

Drunk drivers cause approximately one-third of all traffic fatalities in the United States.

If you are behind the wheel and you have been drinking, you are more dangerous than a man with a gun shooting into a crowd of people. The man with the gun has made his presence of danger known and people can attempt to take cover. If you're driving down the road while intoxicated, the innocent people driving around you have no idea you're drunk behind the wheel and coming right at them.

Here are some facts about alcohol:

- Alcohol remains in your system for up to six hours.

- Alcohol is responsible for an estimated 75% of fatal car crashes occurring between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m.

- A driver is considered to be legally intoxicated in Arkansas when his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) level is at or above .08 grams per deciliter.

- To reach a BAC level of .08, a man weighing approximately 170 pounds would need to consume four standard drinks in one hour on an empty stomach. A woman weighing about 140 pounds would need to consume three drinks in one hour.

- In 2007, alcohol-impaired driving caused the deaths of nearly 13,000 Americans.

- On average, someone in the U.S. is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes.

- An estimated 3 in every 10 Americans at some point in their lives will be involved in an alcohol-related collision.

- A BAC level as low as .02 can affect a person’s response time and makes driving more dangerous. The probability of having a wreck increases significantly with a BAC level of .05, and even more rapidly after with a BAC level of .08.

- A driver with a BAC of .08 is 11 times more likely to be in a fatal accident than a driver who has consumed no alcohol.

- In 2007, more than half of drivers driving while intoxicated and involved in fatal crashes had a BAC level of .15, nearly twice the legal limit.

- Drivers are far more likely to be driving while intoxicated or under the influence during the night than during the day. A study done in 2007 showed that 36% of drivers involved in nighttime fatal crashes were legally drunk versus just 9% during daytime collisions.

- Motorcycle drivers are at higher risk of being involved in a fatal drunk driving accident, with 27% of such accidents in 2007 involving at least one drunk motorcycle operator.

- A crash involving alcohol is more than twice as likely to occur on a weekend day than a week day. Approximately 31% of drivers involved in fatal car crashes on the weekend are legally drunk, as opposed to just 15% during the week.

- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), beer is the most common type of alcoholic beverage involved in both DUI arrests and fatal crashes.

- Males are almost twice as likely as females to drink and drive and to be involved in a fatal car crash.

- According to a recent study, a first-time offender of driving while intoxicated has already driven while under the influence more than 80 times before being arrested.

- DUI means driving under the influence of some type drug. DWI means simply driving while intoxicated, and in many states, refers to the use of alcohol.

- A recent study has shown that using a cell phone while driving can be just as dangerous as driving while drunk, causing drivers to run traffic lights and a decreased reaction time to driving conditions.

My wife's aunt was killed by a drunk driver in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was on her way home from work one evening when a drunk driver crossed the center line and hit her head on. Her precious life was cut short because of someone else's decision to take a drink and get behind the wheel. Her family's lives are changed forever.

If you or a family member has been involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact a Little Rock Arkansas accident lawyer today to discuss your legal rights.

Winter conditions can make travel along Arkansas roads dangerous. The Arkansas Highway Department recommends that motorists stay off Arkansas roads during ice and snow storms. However, sometimes that is not an option for some people. The following winter driving tips were listed on the Department's website:

Wear your seat belt, and make sure all passengers—including children—are buckled up.

Remember that ice forms first on bridges, overpasses and shady areas. If you hit a patch of ice, stay off your brakes and decelerate slowly, holding the car steady as you go over the ice.

Speed is the main problem with driving on ice. Adjust your speed to fit the weather conditions. Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.

If your car goes into a skid, take your foot off the gas pedal but don’t hit the brake. Steer gently in the direction you want the front of the car to go. As the car straightens out, you will be able to regain traction and control.

Check your car battery before cold weather sets in. Battery power dips in cold weather.

Keep blankets, a first-aid kit, flares, jumper cables, tire chains, a flashlight, ice scraper and gloves in your car. Take a food supply of candy bars or dried fruit in case you become stranded.

Keep the gasoline level as high as possible to prevent water condensation in the tank.

Check the automobile’s motor oil, transmission fluid, ignition system, lights, heater, cooling system and wipers

Arkansas motorists must also be aware that we must follow Arkansas traffic laws during winter weather. It is not an excuse for a driver to blame bad road conditions for running a stop sign, red light, or violating any other traffic law. In Arkansas, violations of Arkansas traffic laws can be used as evidence of negligence in a lawsuit or insurance claim. If you or a family member has been injured due to the negligence of another driver, please contact a Little Rock Arkansas accident lawyer today to discuss your legal rights.

A California doctor was sentenced last month to five years in prison for a 2008 road rage incident that involved bicyclists. The driver slammed on his brakes in front of two cyclists, injuring both.

Unfortunately, similar bicycle incidents occur in Arkansas. I have heard from clients who were yelled at while riding a bicycle on an Arkansas road and cyclists who were run off the road by cars as they passed. This conduct is dangerous and should be reported to local Arkansas law enforcement. Bicycle accidents can lead to life-threatening or serious personal injuries.

It should be remembered by bicyclists and car drivers that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Cyclists can increase the safety for themselves and for fellow motorists by riding in a predictable pattern, using hand signals for turns, merges, and stops, and by making sure they are visible through the use of bicycle lights, reflectors, and avoiding dark-colored clothing. Motorists should not pass a bicycle when it’s not safe and should allow plenty of space to safely pass. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration lists the following facts regarding bicycle crashes:

* More than one-fifth of all bicyclist deaths occur among school age youth ages 5 to 15.
* More children go to hospital emergency departments for bicycle-related crashes than for any other sport.
* Although most deaths occur as a result of bicycle and motor vehicle crashes, crashes can happen anywhere— in parks, on bicycle paths, and in driveways. Many crashes do not involve motor vehicles.
* Head injuries are the most serious type of injury and the most common cause of death for bicyclists. Bicycle helmets have been proven to reduce the risk of head and brain injury when a crash occurs by as much as 85 to 88 percent.

Arkansas bike accidents that result in personal injuries happen more often than most people think. Arkansas law allows an injured bike rider to recover for their medical bills, pain, suffering, and other compensatory damages from the insurance company for the driver of the car that caused the bike accident. If you or a loved one is involved in a bike accident caused by a vehicle or another cyclist on a bike, please contact an Arkansas bike accident lawyer.