You mostly share Louisiana roadways with strangers when you travel. You have no way of knowing who is a skilled and experienced driver and who has been driving less than a year. You also have no way of knowing which drivers will fail to adhere to traffic laws and safety regulations, which can place you and all others nearby at risk for collision and serious personal injury.
Sometimes, you may notice a particular driver exhibiting certain behavior behind the wheel that causes alarm. For instance, drunk drivers often make certain errors because their brains and bodies are compromised by the alcohol in their bloodstream. Knowing the signs of drunk driving and where to seek support if a collision occurs may be crucial to your safety and well-being.
Definite causes for concern
If you witness another motorist doing any of the things on the following list, let it serve as an alert that he or she might be intoxicated:
- If you notice the brake lights of a nearby vehicle going off and on for no apparent reason, it’s a sign that the driver might be impaired.
- Watch out for vehicles that are veering too close to or over the center yellow line.
- Drunk drivers often have trouble navigating curves, so if you notice a car coming too close to a curb or making very wide turns, be especially cautious.
- If you’re behind a vehicle at a red light and the driver keeps sitting there once the light turns green, it may be a sign of drunk driving because alcohol slows reaction time.
- People who are intoxicated often forget to turn their headlights on when traveling after dusk.
- Using a left turn signal but turning right or vice versa is another red flag that a driver might be drunk.
Tailgating, sitting at the edge of the driver’s seat and tightly gripping the steering wheel, and other odd behavior may also alert you to a possible drunk driver. If you can safely distance yourself from him or her, that’s great, but it’s not always possible.
What to do if a collision occurs
If another vehicle hits you, you definitely do not want to confront the other driver in an angry way. Seeking medical attention is always a priority, especially if you have visible injuries. Some people decline medical attention and later regret their decisions. Not all injuries are immediately apparent. In fact, symptoms of traumatic brain injury can surface hours, days, or weeks after a collision took place.
Knowing where to seek post-accident support ahead of time can save you a lot of time and aggravation later. A competent medical team, loved ones and close friends, insurance agents, financial advisers, licensed counselors and attorneys can provide encouragement and support as you try to achieve as full a recovery as possible.
