A major collision can occur in the blink of an eye and under numerous scenarios, and the fallout of such an incident could have a devastating impact on your life. While you may feel it vital to take all possible measures to mitigate accident risks while driving, can you rely on others to take the same approach to safety?
Unfortunately, there are a multitude of potential hazards you might encounter while out on Colorado roads, few of which may prove as dangerous as driver impairment. Those who choose to operate a vehicle while under the influence might not even be aware of how such negligence affects their driving capabilities.
Impaired performance
The presence of impairment can take a significant toll on your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and these effects only intensify as the level of impairment increases. Studies indicate that impairment can affect your driving capabilities in the following ways:
- Reaction times: The ability to react to the situation at hand is a vital component of safe driving, and studies indicate that the presence of impairment reduces your reaction time significantly.
- Motor skills: Impaired drivers may also struggle with motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and loss of coordination may only increase the risk of an unfortunate result.
- Judgment calls: Those who operate a motor vehicle while impaired may also struggle to make snap judgment calls, and lapses in judgment could prove hazardous in various ways.
- Attention and tracking: The presence of impairment may also lead to greater risk of driver distraction, and impaired drivers might also struggle to track nearby vehicles and objects.
Should you encounter an impaired driver on the open road, there may be little you can do to respond to the situation and reach safety, and an ensuing crash could place your well-being in jeopardy.
Impairment-related crash
Should the decisions of an impaired driver cause a dangerous collision to occur, you could suffer serious or even life-altering injuries in the process. In addition to any physical pain and suffering involved, the financial challenges that might stem from extensive medical bills and loss of wages could also place a significant strain on your life. The aftermath of the crash may leave you facing numerous hardships in life and leave you with questions about the next steps to take to seek restitution and protect your interests.