Culpability and accountability of hospitalized injured alcohol-impaired drivers. A prospective study

K. I. Maull, L. S. Kinning and J. K. Hickman

During the three-year period ending October 1982, driver records, crash reports, and blood alcohol concentrations were correlated for 56 alcohol-impaired drivers injured seriously enough to warrant hospital admission. Blood alcohol concentration levels exceeded 0.15 vol% in all patients. Despite a high level of suspicion of alcohol involvement and assessment of culpability by the law enforcement officer at the scene, there were no convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) among this problem-drinker population. Injury seems to offer additional protection from enforcement of DUI statutes and, if the patient survives his injuries, allows the offender to resume driving without interdiction.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Toxicological screening in trauma
Carrigan et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2000;17:33-37.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Comparison between blood analysis and police assessment of drug and alcohol use by injured drivers
Sjogren et al.
Scand J Public Health 1997;25:217-223.
ABSTRACT  

Alcohol and Injuries: Time for Action
Arch Fam Med 1995;4:499-501.
ABSTRACT  

The Risk of Dying in Alcohol-Related Automobile Crashes among Habitual Drunk Drivers
Brewer et al.
NEJM 1994;331:513-517.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Testing Reckless Drivers for Cocaine and Marijuana
Brookoff et al.
NEJM 1994;331:518-522.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT