What Are the Different Types of Driving Impairment?

Driving a vehicle requires full mental and physical understanding in order to navigate roadways filled with potential hazards safely. However, numerous factors can impair a driver’s abilities behind the wheel that can endanger others. 

Our drunk driving accident lawyer in Phoenix at Zanes Law explains the different types of driving impairment and how they can injure other drivers. Read on to learn more about the different types of driving impairment and how our team can help if you’ve been injured.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Driving after consuming alcohol is one of the most dangerous types of impairment. Even at relatively low blood alcohol concentrations (BAC), alcohol can significantly slow reaction times and compromise driving judgment and skills. Some of the specific effects include:

• Slower reaction times: Alcohol depresses important cognitive functions, leading to delays in responding to unexpected road hazards and traffic situations. This leaves less time to avoid potential accidents.
• Risk-taking behavior: Alcohol lowers inhibitions and encourages poor decision-making. Drivers may take more chances speeding, following too closely, or attempting risky maneuvers they otherwise would avoid.
• Increased accident likelihood: Even low levels of intoxication from 0.05% to 0.08% BAC increase the chance of a crash by around 25%. Serious injury or fatality accidents involving alcohol are all too common on roads.

Driving under the influence of any amount of alcohol significantly increases risks to oneself and others on the road. Our Phoenix car accident lawyer can help you if you’ve been a victim of a drunk driver. 

For a free legal consultation, call 866-499-8989

Fatigued Driving

Another type of driving impairment, such as driving while fatigued, can seriously endanger not only the drowsy driver but also innocent people sharing the road. Our Phoenix personal injury lawyers know that lack of sleep leads to lapses in attention, slowed reaction time, and impaired judgment, which puts all motorists at risk. 

Unfortunately, Phoenix has several cases of truck driver fatigue that puts thousands of drivers at risk every year. Some potential consequences of fatigued driving include:

• Falling asleep at the wheel: Farther along the spectrum of fatigue, a driver may momentarily lose consciousness. This leaves no time to avoid collisions, which can be head-on at high speeds.
• Delayed reaction: Even before nodding off, fatigue causes lagging awareness of hazards like stopped cars or changing traffic signals. Late braking leaves little room to prevent crashes.
• Erratic maneuvers: Overtired drivers may drift between lanes, tailgate unpredictably, or build gaps when merging, which are actions that drastically increase the chances of multi-vehicle accidents.
• Inability to adjust: Fast reflexes are critical when navigating roads, but fatigue limits flexibility to unforeseen events.

Victims of fatigued drivers have no warning or control over these unsafe conditions. Crashes from drowsiness often cause tragic and life-altering injuries simply from driver negligence.

Under the Influence of Drugs

Driving while impaired by illegal drugs is another different type of driving impairment and can endanger oneself and others sharing the roadway. Impairing substances negatively impact reaction times, judgment, and overall driving ability.

In Arizona, driving under the influence of drugs is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor offense. This criminal charge carries severe maximum penalties according to state law. Specifically, a DUI drug conviction is punishable by:

• Up to six months in jail
• Fines of up to $2,500 plus additional court fees and surcharges
• Five years of probationary monitoring upon release

While the court may impose lesser sentences for a first-time offense, these penalties emphasize the seriousness of driving while impaired by any mind-altering substance. Multiple DUI drug violations can also result in mandated drug treatment programs and the installation of an ignition interlock device on one’s vehicle.

Can Prescription Drugs Impair Driving?

While prescribed by doctors to improve health conditions, certain medications can negatively impact driving safety if taken irresponsibly. Here’s what to know:

• Sedatives and tranquilizers used for anxiety or sleep medications increase drowsiness and slower reaction times.
• Narcotic pain relievers like codeine, oxycodone, and others may cause dizziness, disorientation, and confusion, making multi-tasking while driving hazardous.
• Antihistamines for allergies often cause drowsiness as a side effect, leaving drivers prone to microsleep episodes if operating vehicles.
• Some antidepressants may result in dizziness or trouble concentrating, which delays responses to rapid changes in traffic conditions.

If you’ve suffered injuries due to this type of driving impairment, our Phoenix driving under the influence of drugs accident lawyer can help you build a strong case and recover compensation.

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Distracted Driving

When a driver chooses to engage in distracting driving behind the wheel, they unknowingly put numerous innocent lives in severe danger. Even momentary lapses in attention can have catastrophic outcomes.

Distracted operation delays a driver’s reaction time, sometimes equivalent to having a blood alcohol content over the legal driving limit. They may fail to notice situations developing like stopped traffic, pedestrians crossing, or oncoming vehicles veering into their path.

You have no way to anticipate a crash caused by another’s distractions. Collisions often occur suddenly and unexpectedly through no fault of their own. Powerful impacts can cause traumatic physical injuries like fractures, head trauma, internal bleeding, or amputations for those simply commuting or enjoying a drive.

Long-term effects on health are also severe. You may experience chronic pain, neurological deficits, mobility issues, or disabilities permanently altering your quality of life. Post-traumatic stress disorder from the trauma is not uncommon, leading to social impairments and the inability to resume normal activities.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help After Being Hit by an Impaired Driver

No matter the impairing factor, whether alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or distractions, being struck by an intoxicated or compromised driver is physically and emotionally devastating. Dealing with the complex legal fallout alone makes recovery even harder. An experienced car accident attorney from our law firm can take on this burden. Here’s how our team at Zanes Law can help:

• Thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident, including obtaining medical records, police reports, and witness statements to prove driver liability regardless of intoxication.
• Negotiating insurance claims to ensure adequate finances for ongoing medical bills and lost wages from injuries suffered due to another’s unsafe actions.
• If denied, file a personal injury lawsuit to cover all economic and non-economic damages incurred from the crash fully through legal avenues.
• Managing communications so you and your family can dedicate full efforts to treatment instead of bureaucracy or paperwork.

Learn More About the Different Types of Driving Impairment

At Zanes Law, we’ve dealt with cases that involve all of the different types of driving impairment. With over 20 years in business, our team of Phoenix car accident attorneys can confidently take on your case. 

Contact us today to learn more about the different types of driving impairment and how we can help you.

Call or text 866-499-8989 or complete a
Free Case Evaluation form