The Highest BAC Ever Recorded

“Highest BAC ever recorded” is a dubious record to hold, and one no one should aspire to. If you have any doubts, consider this: only one of the top three record-holders survived. Here’s what we know about them, and what you should know about blood alcohol content. 

The Highest Blood Alcohol Content in Known History

Of course, we can’t know for sure what the highest blood alcohol content any human has ever had was. We do know that some BACs have been recorded at levels far higher than most people could survive – 1.5%, 1.48% and 1.4%. 

For context, the legal limit for driving a car in Massachusetts and most other states is .08%. The Cleveland Clinics says that BACs between .15% and .30% typically cause drowsiness, vomiting and confusion. At .30%, alcohol poisoning–which can be fatal–is likely. At .40% or above, there is a significant risk of coma and death from respiratory arrest.

•  A Polish man’s BAC was measured at 1.48%. Unsurprisingly, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident and hospitalized. A few days later, he died from his injuries. 
• A California woman who died of organ failure was found during her autopsy to have had a BAC of 1.4%.

The highest of the three survived, but only after intervention with both dialysis and IV therapy. 

There have been other cases of BACs in excess of 1%. However, most people can’t survive that level of intoxication. And, of course, a person impaired by alcohol can also present a significant danger to others. 

BAC and Auto Accidents

In Massachusetts, as in most states, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or higher, and separately to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. That’s because the state has determined that no one should be operating a vehicle with a BAC over .08%, but also recognizes that some people may be unsafe to drive at lower levels. 

Driving Under the Influence is Negligent

Driving under the influence is a crime because it presents a danger to others: those in other  vehicles sharing the road, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians and other people’s property. When a drunk driver causes an accident, they may be responsible for paying damages such as:

• Medical bills associated with the crash
• Compensation for lost income due to the crash
• Damage to your vehicle or other property

You may even be entitled to compensation for intangible damages like pain and suffering. 

Negligence Per Se in Massachusetts Drunk Driving Injury Cases

In a car accident case, the injured person has to show that the other driver was responsible for their injuries. That means showing that the responsible driver was negligent. In legal terms, that means that the driver had a duty of care, and that they didn’t live up to it. The plaintiff must also show that the driver’s breach of that duty was the cause of their injuries and other losses. 

When the driver who caused the accident was under the influence of alcohol, the injured person may be able to rely on negligence per se. In plain English, that means certain things are automatically, by their own nature, considered negligent. Unlike some other states, Massachusetts does not consider traffic violations negligence per se. However, violation of a criminal statute that was intended to protect against the type of harm the plaintiff suffered qualifies. 

If the intoxicated driver wasn’t charged with DUI or their BAC wasn’t high enough to constitute negligence per se, the fact they were under the influence can still be introduced as evidence of negligence. 

Help for People Injured by Drunk Drivers

If you were injured in an accident with a drunk driver, it’s in your best interest to talk to an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You can get started right now:  Just call 978-459-3085 or fill out the contact form on this site to get a free consultation. Even if you aren’t sure if you have a case, it is always better to call and ask.