When you or your loved ones travel New Jersey roadways, there's always a possibility that an accident might occur. You've likely driven along a highway at one time or another when you see the aftermath of a recent collision on the road. Perhaps there are flares, fire trucks, police and other rescue workers nearby as well. It's not uncommon in such circumstances to hope the best for those who are injured and to be thankful that you and your family were not involved.

Many times, drunk drivers are the causes of such accidents. In New Jersey and most other states, the law considers any person operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .o8 or higher legally intoxicated. In fact, in some situations, a conviction can still be handed down against a driver whose BAC is even lower than that. Knowing the signs of possible drunk driving may help you avoid collision.

Things drunk drivers often do

If you know how to recognize a possible drunk driving situation, you may be able to create distance between your car and the one in question. You may even be able to pull off the road to report the license number to local authorities so that they can investigate the problem. The following list includes behaviors common to intoxicated drivers:

• They often sit too close to the edge of their drivers' seats, as though they are trying to get close to their windshields.
• Drunk drivers have trouble with depth perception. This often causes them to use their brakes or to speed up at inappropriate times that are not consistent with traffic flow.
• An intoxicated driver might forget to turn on his or her headlights at night.
• If you witness a vehicle veering across the center line of traffic or coming close to the curb, it's a definite sign that the driver might be impaired.

These are not the only signs suggestive of drunk driving but this list gives you an idea of what type of driving behaviors should place you on alert. Even if you see a driver making erratic maneuvers on the road, you might not be able to react quickly or safely enough to avoid a crash.

What do to if a drunk driver hits you

If you or your loved one suffers injury because of a drunk driver, the highest priority in the near aftermath of the accident is obtaining proper medical attention. Beyond that, your situation and recovery will depend on several factors, including severity of injury and the type of support system you have in place.