Impaired Driving Awareness in Hot Weather
Florida is no stranger to warm weather throughout the year. Drinking can impair drivers no matter the temperature, but it’s essential to understand how heat can affect the body and a person’s ability to drive safely. Drunk driving awareness is the first step toward crash prevention.
Drinking at any time can impair a motorist’s perception, judgment, and reaction time. However, consuming alcohol in hot weather can quickly cause dehydration, leading to symptoms also associated with drunk driving, like dizziness, confusion, and impaired coordination. This combination could create a recipe for disaster on Florida roads.
Motorists should know the dangers of drunk driving in warm temperatures and learn strategies to avoid Florida drinking and driving accidents. If you’ve been injured in a collision with a drunk driver, an attorney could help.
Strategies for Combating Impaired Driving in Gainesville, FL
DUI awareness begins with recognizing the signs of impairment. Some common indications of intoxication include:
- Unsteady gait
- Slurred speech
- Glassy eyes
- The odor of alcohol on the body or breath
- Inability to keep the vehicle in the lane
- Crossing over the center line
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to keep pace with traffic (e.g., slowing down and then speeding up)
- Driving much slower than surrounding vehicles
Drivers and passengers can reduce their risk of getting into a drunk driving accident and increase drinking and driving awareness by following these tips:
- Stay hydrated. Heat depletes the body of fluids through sweat. Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes the body release more fluids through urine. The dangerous combination of alcohol and heat means individuals may exhibit signs of impairment while driving and cause a crash.
- Never drive after consuming alcohol.
- Never get into a vehicle with a driver who has consumed alcohol.
- Avoid driving late at night when bars and clubs close.
- Make alternative transportation plans if you plan on drinking. Take public transit, call a taxi or rideshare, have a designated driver, or stay overnight at a nearby hotel or a friend’s or family member’s home.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?
If a drunk driver injured you, a car accident attorney can help you pursue money for your medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related losses. A lawyer can handle the details of your legal case, allowing you to focus on your medical treatment and rehabilitation. A drunk driving injury attorney will also:
- Investigate the collision to recover all available evidence, such as accident scene photos, video footage, the police report, arrest records, and witness testimony
- Document your injuries to calculate your past, ongoing, and future anticipated losses
- Identify the at-fault party(s) and evaluate your legal options
- Handle communications and settlement negotiations with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial when necessary
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you suffered injuries in a Florida drunk driving crash, get legal help to pursue justice for your losses. Reach out to Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano P.A. today for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney. When life changes, we’re there. Let our firm fight for you and demand the money you deserve. Call or contact us now to get started.
Mr. Fine was born in New York, New York, and was raised in the northeast, where he studied sociology at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He then graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1976. In law school, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. Mr. Fine was admitted into the Florida Bar in 1976, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1977, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in 1991, and the United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit in 1982.