Note: This is part 2 of a DUI Guide provided by the Parrish Law Firm. If you have not read part 1, you can do so Part 1 of our DUI Guide .
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is never safe and never right. That said, we can’t control what others on the road have chosen to do before getting behind the wheel.
If you have a friend or a loved one that drives while intoxicated, here are a few ways to help them cease this unsafe behavior or provide them with alternatives:
- A reminder that one’s own parents, siblings or friends could be on the road with drunk drivers is a great deterrent. Driving while intoxicated doesn’t just jeopardize the drunk driver’s life, but the lives of every man, woman and child on the road.
- Volunteer to be a loved one’s designated driver.
- Tell your friend under the influence that it is okay to take an Uber or Lyft home. Even offer to pay for their cab or Uber/Lyft. To go the extra mile, offer to drive them back to their vehicle the next morning.
- Let your drunk friend sleep over.
- Remind your drunk friend that a DUI would mean they would have a hard time getting a job and that the court process can be extremely pricey. DUIs tend to stay on your record for 10 years or more, and they also increase your insurance rates for years to come.
- Get help from others. Having multiple friends insist on taking a safer way home will make it more difficult for your drunk friend to say no.
- Talk to your friend when they’re sober. There may be more to it than just wanting to get drunk. Talk to your friend and ask tough questions if necessary to determine if they need professional help.
- If you are confident your friend could end up in a car accident or worse, dead, it is your responsibility to stop them any way possible. Take their keys, offer alternatives, and if nothing else works, unfortunately calling the police may be the safest option for your friend. Your friend will hopefully be understanding enough to recognize you did it for their own well-being and the innocent people on the highway, who could have been hurt.
We hope that one or more of these methods proves to be helpful for your loved ones considering driving under the influence. Check your local resources to determine if there are other approaches you can take to keep your friends and family safe.
Talk to a Car Accident Attorney if You Suffered Injuries from Someone Else’s Driving Under the Influence
In this day and age it seems almost unavoidable that someone we know has driven drunk or has suffered injuries at the hands of another driver’s driving under the influence. Remember to avoid driving habits such as drunk driving that get you into car wrecks while you are out on the road.
Parrish Law Firm helps victims of drunk driving accidents recover compensation for their injuries. To schedule a no-cost consultation and claim review, call 571-229-1800.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form
