Knowing how to spot a drunk driver can save your life

Driving in New York can be hazardous and often life-threatening. Anticipating what other drivers will do is never easy, but learning to identify the telltale signs of a drunk driver might be the answer. The consequences of car accidents caused by impaired drivers can be catastrophic and result in severe injuries or death.

Drivers who take very wide turns or straddle the lane markers or centerline might be under the influence of alcohol. A drunk driver may be using the lane markers to keep going straight, and another way to stay on the road is to drive very closely behind other cars, using their taillights as guides. Impaired drivers often weave across the lanes, and to avoid that, some of them drive at very low speeds. They might drive without lights to avoid detection, and run red lights or stop when the traffic lights are green.

Sober drivers are advised to expect the unexpected when they identify drunk drivers, and to get out of their way and stay far behind them because they might stop unexpectedly. It is also best to avoid trying to pass a drunk driver and never attempt to stop one or attempt to pull one over. Instead, safety authorities urge other road users to report suspected drunk drivers.

Anyone in New York who was unsuccessful in avoiding a drunk driver might have questions about his or her rights to pursue a claim for financial relief. An experienced personal injury attorney can assist with establishing negligence, which is necessary to make a civil lawsuit viable. Furthermore, legal counsel can provide support and guidance with the documentation of claims for adjudication by the court, and throughout ensuing legal proceedings to recover monetary and emotional damages.