It’s not uncommon to hear about serious crashes involving a drunk and/or drugged driver wherein that driver walks away with minor injuries while those in the other vehicle(s) suffer catastrophic or even fatal injuries. For victims and their loved ones, this can add insult to injury.
Although this isn’t always the case, there’s a scientific explanation for why impaired drivers often suffer the same severity of injuries as the people they hit.
Bracing for impact and deceleration injuries
If someone is aware of an impending crash, even a second before it occurs, the body’s natural reaction is to tense up and brace for it. A driver will grab the steering wheel, hit the brakes and, if there’s a passenger next to them, maybe push them back against the seat.
When the vehicle suddenly stops, as often happens when a car collides with other one or maybe with a light pole or guard rail, the movement of the vehicle and the bodies in it abruptly decelerate. Because the body has tensed up, it’s less able to absorb the energy of the crash. That can result in what are known as “deceleration injuries.”
Brittanica defines a deceleration injury as “an impact injury to a body within or upon a rapidly moving object caused by the forces exerted when the object is brought to a sudden halt.” Brain and spinal injuries are just two common deceleration injuries.
Why impaired drivers are less likely to suffer these injuries
A driver who’s drunk or impaired by drugs (at least those with a depressant or relaxing effect on them) may not be aware that they’re about to crash, so their body doesn’t tense up. Even if they are aware of the impending crash, their body won’t tense up as much as that of an unimpaired person. Therefore, they’re less likely to suffer deceleration injuries. Certainly, they can still suffer all kinds of other serious injuries. Oftentimes, they do.
Impaired drivers who cause crashes that injure or kill others typically face serious criminal charges. However, victims and surviving family members can also hold them liable through their insurance company or through a civil action to seek compensation for economic as well as non-economic damages. If a crash is fatal, a wrongful death action may be possible. It’s best to get legal guidance as soon as possible to determine the best option for getting compensation for expenses, lost wages and more.