When there is a car accident involving a drunk driver and a sober driver, you will sometimes hear people comment that the drunk drivers never get injured. They say that it always seems like the people who did nothing wrong are the ones to get hurt in these crashes.
Is there any truth to this claim, or is it just one of those myths that gets repeated so often that people assume it’s true?
Studies give a mixed answer to that question
The reality is simply that studies — of which there are not that many — get mixed results. In some cases, intoxicated individuals are less likely to suffer minor injuries, such as those to the limbs, but more likely to suffer severe injuries. In other studies, those who do get injured have higher survival rates if they’re very intoxicated at the time — though no one really knows why they do so.
Even within this realm, though, there are exceptions. Burn victims who are intoxicated, for instance, are more likely to experience infections and have negative results, perhaps because alcohol can hinder the ability of the immune system.
Plus, some of the statistics don’t even tell the whole story. While someone who is intoxicated may have better odds of surviving a crash, experts are quick to point out that they’re also vastly more likely to cause a crash in the first place. The best way to avoid injuries would simply be to not drink and drive at all.
What if you’re injured by a drunk driver?
What is clear in all studies is that drunk driving causes a substantial amount of serious injuries every year. If you get injured after being hit by an intoxicated driver, you may be able to seek out financial compensation.