It always seems to be that when there is an accident in California involving a drunk driver that the driving who was drunk comes out with fewer or less serious injuries than everyone else. This may seem like cruel irony, but there is a very good reason why this is true.
According to The Drive, the drunk driver in an accident is in a different mental state than the other driver in the accident. The drunk driver has delayed reaction time and lowered awareness. The other driver, though, likely braces for the impact. This means he or she stiffens up and tightens his or her muscles.
This slight difference plays a huge role in the injuries each sustain. The sober driver tenses up and this means the rate of deceleration of his or her body decreases. It allows less give in the body and equals more overall force, especially on internal organs as they come to an abrupt stop. It is harder for the sober person’s body to absorb the impact on the outside before the internal organs experience it. This greatly increases the chances for more serious internal injuries.
The drunk driver, on the other hand, is loose and not tense. He or she is able to better absorb the force of the impact and lessen the force of the impact on internal organs. Thus, the reason why a drunk driver will usually come out better after a crash than a sober driver. This information is for education and is not legal advice.