What does it signify if you are charged with or found guilty of DUI? Are you drinking too much or did you make a bad choice? The moment has come to examine your relationship with alcohol and potentially other drugs if you have been arrested on a DUI charge.
Alcoholism and problem drinking pose major threats to the public’s health. Accidents are significantly more likely to be caused by drunk drivers than by sober ones.
It can be difficult to distinguish between social drinking and an alcohol consumption disorder. Your alcohol consumption may gradually rise without your knowledge. This can happen especially if your social circle is made up of people who frequently meet for drinks at bars.
However, being detained for driving while intoxicated might not mean that you have a drinking issue. When facing possible DUI charges, contact your car accident lawyer at the earliest to learn how to move forward with your legal charges.
What is DUI?
Driving under influence (DUI) is sometimes known as Driving while intoxicated (DWI). It is the practice of operating a vehicle while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of at least 0.08%.
Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above is considered to be under the influence. Although this is the legally mandated limit, it is not at this point that your ability to drive becomes affected. In most states in the U.S, if it is discovered that you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above, you will probably be charged with DUI.
Depending on the state, police must have reasonable grounds before arresting you for a DUI. Probable cause examples include:
- A police officer may stop someone for driving recklessly
- Failing a field sobriety test
- Consuming alcohol with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the permitted limit
- They may also stop someone if they exhibit aggressive driving or if they smell alcohol
- If the person seems drunk (bloodshot eyes, slurred speech)
Car crashes can result in serious injuries that may take years to heal, and usually the victims never fully recover. If you ever get detained for a car accident caused by driving under the influence, call a car accident lawyer at the earliest to know how to proceed.
An attorney can give you strong legal representation and explain your side of the case if your case moves to court. Car accident lawyers in Las Vegas also aid victims in establishing personal injury cases. This can help in pursuing damages from at-fault drivers.
Does Getting a DUI Indicate Alcoholism?
While being charged with drunk driving may not be an obvious symptom of addiction, it is unquestionably a warning sign.
Someone who gets detained for a DUI might have just made a bad decision at that particular time. Having a DUI doesn’t always indicate that a person is dependent on alcohol. People who are not alcoholics can binge or drink excessively and then choose poorly to drive while intoxicated.
Repeat DUI convictions, however, would suggest an alcohol use issue. Even one incident of drunk driving could suggest an individual has a drinking problem. But not all correlations indicate causation.
Most states require arrestees to go through an evaluation and screening for addiction. This is because driving under the influence may be a sign of alcohol addiction. The screening can assist the court in deciding if the defendant is a good candidate for additional rehab and treatment.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Driving Skills?
1. Slow Response
Alcohol depresses attentiveness and impairs the coordination of movement. Alcohol impairs a person’s ability to react rapidly when the situation calls for it. Their vision is impaired and could become doubled or distorted. These can result in car accidents.
2. Lack of Coordination and Concentration
Your ability to coordinate your eyes, hands, and feet is negatively impacted by heavy drinking. Without essential coordination abilities, a dangerous situation can occur. Walking with difficulty, and swaying are some unmistakable indications of poor coordination. Alcohol abuse might also make it difficult to start your automobile and get inside.
Also, alcohol might affect your focus. Driving involves several factors that need your complete attention. These include maintaining your lane, speed, other vehicles on the road, and traffic signals. Drinking severely shortens your attention span. An accident is now much more likely as a result.
3. Decreased Vision and Bad Judgment
Alcohol abuse can have a bad effect on your vision. You can experience impaired vision or lose control over your eye movement after drinking. Your ability to assess the distance between your car and other moving objects on the road may be impacted. Furthermore, there can be fewer things in your peripheral vision, or what you can see on either side of you while you stare directly ahead.
Your decision-making when operating a motorized vehicle depends heavily on your judgment. For instance, if another car cuts you off, you must be prepared to anticipate potential issues and take decisive action. While driving, your judgment aids in maintaining your attention and awareness.
Does a DUI Mean Addiction Treatment Is Necessary?
Someone who gets detained for a DUI might have just made a bad decision at that particular time.
However, one well-known indication of an alcohol use disorder is drinking in circumstances where you put yourself or others in danger. This includes drinking and operating heavy machinery, driving while intoxicated, and combining alcohol with prescription medications against a doctor’s advice.
You drink alcohol to unwind or relieve tension. These are other indications that you may have an alcohol use disorder. One is more likely to require addiction therapy the more symptoms of an alcohol use problem they exhibit.
The following are some of the key indicators of alcoholism:
- Repeated DUI convictions; excessive drinking
- Blacking out
- Fabrication of justifications for drinking
- Lying about drinking
- Withdrawal from friends and family.
What Happens When You Get a DUI?
Some judges will permit DUI suspects to go to addiction treatment rather than go to jail. Even if this is not the case, deciding to enter rehab on one’s initiative demonstrates that one is aware of a problem. It also demonstrates you want to take responsibility for their behavior. This might lead to a softer punishment.
Once you face DUI charges it is crucial that you contact your car accident lawyer to discuss your best options. The attorney would be able to analyze your case in depth and present to you the options you have.
How Alcohol Addiction Is Treated?
Treatment programs for those with alcohol use disorders must be individualized. This is because every individual is unique. The following specific types of care may be suggested:
- Treatment for withdrawal symptoms and safe alcohol removal from the body under medical supervision
- Group counseling to learn from the experiences of others who are dealing with similar challenges
- Individual counseling to encourage the development of coping strategies for a sober lifestyle
- Joining self-help organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous
- Treatment using medication to lessen cravings and encourage abstinence
- Therapy for mental health conditions including sadness or anxiety
- Holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation, and art or music therapy
Conclusion
Not every person convicted of DUI goes on to commit additional offenses despite the repercussions. If your DUI case is a one-time problem, your personal injury lawyer can show you the best way out of your case.
For those with an inability to stop drinking despite the consequences, you need to investigate if it is an early sign of alcoholism.
A DUI doesn’t mean that you are an alcoholic. But it is a wake-up call for those who battle with problem drinking and the legal concerns associated with it. And it’s essential to seek medical assistance for alcohol use disorder.
