New Jersey DWI Defense Lawyers
Alcohol and its Effects on Driving
Drinking and driving is very dangerous and nobody will ever be able to argue that fact. Drivers who have very high blood alcohol content (BAC) levels are much more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers who have not been drinking alcohol. The legal blood alcohol limit for New Jersey is 0.08% or a little more than one drink's worth for most people.
One drink of alcohol contains about 0.6 ounces of alcohol, whether it is in the form of beer, wine or spirits. Any more than two drinks puts most people at risk of being too legally impaired to drive regardless of how they feel or their actual ability to drive. Alcohol is quickly absorbed by the blood and remains in the body for a very long period of time. Many times a DWI test will determine levels of alcohol even when no drink has been had for hours.
Alcohol affects a driver's ability to react to situations on the road, especially when quick thinking and reaction times are needed. Alcohol also impairs the ability of a driver to see effectively, to watch moving objects, to concentrate, and to understand situations. The more alcohol a person drinks the more it affects their coordination as well.
Levels of alcohol involved in fatal and injurious vehicle accidents have been overwhelmingly in the 0.15% range and higher. These levels are much higher than New Jersey's legal limits. The nationwide BAC average of drunk drivers who have been killed is 0.17% and about half of these people have BACs of .20% or higher, more than twice the legal limit in New Jersey.
The rate of traffic accidents around the country is fortunately on the decline. Fatalities are down, especially those involving alcohol impairment. However, arrests for drinking and driving are on the rise. Police are more vigilant than ever in their efforts in detaining and convicting people for driving while under the influence. Because DWI cases are on the rise, despite the fact that accidents are declining, it is always a good idea to have an effective New Jersey DWI lawyer on your side if you have been arrested.
Our Princeton DUI attorneys and legal staff at Lependorf & Silverstein have years of experience handling drinking and driving cases throughout New Jersey. Our offices are located in Princeton and we are able to handle most any case in the state including those in Newark, Jersey City, Trenton, New Brunswick, Edison and Elizabeth.
While we strongly believe that people should never drink and drive we also believe that people have rights as well. If any of those rights have been infringed upon during any stage of a DWI process then your case can be thrown out of court. You can avoid paying thousands of dollars in fines, jail time, losing your license and more.
Our office is one of the few offering free consultations in any New Jersey DWI case. We look forward to speaking with you about your case.
If you or a loved one has been accused or arrested for a DWI in New Jersey, contact Lependorf & Silverstein today for a free consultation.