According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking on a single occasion or over time can have a significant impact on the health of your body. Alcohol can affect the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system.1 Some of the effects of alcohol are long term health concerns, but alcohol as a depressant drug can have more immediate effects on the central nervous system.2 The effects on the nervous system including the brain present in a variety of ways including impaired vision, reduced reaction times, reduced concentration, increased relaxation and drowsiness, difficulty in processing sensory information, over confidence, and a difficulty multitasking such as remaining in a lane, driving the right speed, and concentrating on traffic.3 These concerns are not exclusive to automobile drivers, motorcyclists face the same risks when the ride intoxicated.
Motorcycle Dangers
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is a significant number of motorcyclists who are injured or killed every years. Studies conducted two years ago revealed that there were approximately 8 million motorcycles on the road which accounted for nearly 90,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths which makes motorcycles one of the most dangerous forms of transportation.4 Motorcyclists in comparison to passenger vehicle occupants are five times more likely to be injured and twenty-six times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.5
Motorcycles and Drunk Driving
There are a number of reasons why motorcycle wrecks occur, but some of the leading causes include cars making left turns, lane splitting, inclement weather, and road hazards such as potholes, uneven lanes, lose debris, or dead animals.6 However, one of the leading causes is alcohol consumption as approximately half of all single motorcycle accidents involve alcohol use with its correlated relationship to speeding.7 Intoxication is statistically a greater issue for motorcyclists then motor vehicle drivers; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that fewer drivers have a blood alcohol level over the national limit of 0.08 then the almost 27 percent of intoxicated motorcycle riders who are involved in a fatal accident annually.8 The propensity for intoxicated riding combined with the physical and mental impairments associated with alcohol use increased the chances for accidents to occur.
Contact an Experienced St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you have been injured or harmed due to an accident involving an intoxicated motorcyclist, it is important to discuss the circumstances of your injury with an experienced auto accident attorney who can help to protect your legal rights and interests. To contact a personal injury attorney for a free consultation please feel free to call the The Bruning Law Firm trial attorneys at 314-735-8100.
Resources:
- http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body
- http://www.iii.org/issue-update/motorcycle-crashes
- http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/motorcycle-accidents-common-causes-30330.html
- http://www.iii.org/issue-update/motorcycle-crashes
