Not just "drunk driving," and not limited to someone who is falling-down wasted. A person can be impaired even if they seem steady, talk normally, or blow under a number people assume is the whole test. What actually matters is whether alcohol, drugs, or another impairing substance has reduced the driver's ability to safely control the vehicle, react, judge distance, or make basic decisions. That includes illegal drugs, prescription medication, over-the-counter medicine, or a mix of substances.

In North Carolina, this usually shows up as DWI under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-138.1 (2024). A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more is one route to a charge, but it is not the only route. A driver can still be convicted based on actual impairment. On roads with sharp curves, fog, and no shoulders like parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, even mild impairment can turn deadly fast.

For an injury claim, impaired driving can blow up a case in a serious way. It can help prove negligence, support a claim for punitive damages, and strengthen the injured person's position in settlement talks. Insurance still matters too: North Carolina requires minimum auto liability coverage of 30/60/25, but crash losses often crush those limits. If the injured person was also impaired, the defense may try to use North Carolina's harsh contributory negligence rule to block recovery entirely.