Posted by The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic in Car Accidents
The rates of drinking and driving in Florida and the United States tend to increase during the holiday season. That means the number of car accidents, injuries, and fatalities also skyrocket during this time of the year.
While it surely is the season to be jolly and festive, ’tis also the season to drive sober to protect yourself and loved ones. Before you get behind the wheel after having an alcoholic beverage this holiday season, consider the following.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in a single year, more than 10,000 people died from alcohol-impaired driving crashes, or approximately one person every 51 minutes.
Furthermore, alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes cost the U.S. more than $37 billion annually.
In addition to fatalities, alcohol-related car crashes can cause catastrophic injuries. These injuries can render a person paralyzed, permanently disabled, or leave them living with severe cognitive complications.
Drinking and Driving Over the Holidays
The dangers of drinking and driving are especially concerning over the holidays.
An article published in USA Today highlights the fact that AAA estimated that during the Christmas and New Year’s season, more than 95 million drivers would be on the road.
Of those, 27,900 Americans were estimated to sustain serious injuries in car accidents, and approximately 250 deaths were predicted.
There is no doubt about it – car accident rates during the holidays are higher than they are during other days of the year. Specifically, New Year’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day are particularly deadly.
It is believed that one of the biggest reasons for the increase in traffic fatalities during the holidays is the consumption of alcohol among drivers. This is especially true at New Year’s. During the New Year’s period, spanning four years, drinking and driving caused 42 percent of traffic fatalities.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) provides data concerning the number of traffic deaths during the holiday, as well as those related to alcohol.
During the Christmas holiday in one recent year, there were 96 people killed in drunk driving crashes, making up 37 percent of highway deaths.
During the New Year’s holiday, there were 143 people killed in drunk driving crashes, comprising 48 percent of all highway deaths.
Tips for a Safe and Accident-Free Holiday Season of Travel
The best thing that you can do this holiday season to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you, including your own passengers, is to make a commitment to drive sober. While you may think that you may be able to get away with one or two drinks just fine, do not risk it. If you will be driving this holiday season, say no to alcohol that is offered to you.
Remember that alcohol is not the only substance that you should avoid before driving. Driving while impaired by any substance can be deadly.
If you will be attending holiday parties and you are assigned to be the designated driver, choose a non-alcoholic beverage that you can enjoy during the festivities. If you will be hosting holiday parties, provide “mocktails” and other fun drinks that are alcohol-free for drivers to enjoy.
Driving sober is not the only thing that you can do, though. You can also make sure that your loved ones and friends drive sober, too.
If you notice someone reaching for their keys when they have consumed an unsafe amount of alcohol, stop them before it is too late.
While it may be difficult to do in the moment, taking someone’s keys can prevent them from getting a hefty fine and facing criminal charges – and can even save their life and the lives of others on the road.
Calling a taxi or using a ridesharing service like Uber may also provide an option for getting home safely after drinking at a holiday party.
If you notice another driver on the road whom you believe may be driving while intoxicated, keep a safe distance. Never drive closely to a driver who is swerving, driving erratically, or otherwise operating his or her vehicle in an unsafe manner.
Instead, take a note of the vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number, pull over to a safe area, and call the police. When you report drivers whom you believe to be drunk, you are doing others a valuable service.
Accidents caused by drinking and driving are tragic, and even more heartbreaking as they are 100 percent preventable. Be part of the solution, not the problem, this holiday season.
What to Do If You Are in an Accident with a Drunk Driver
Even though you may commit to driving sober, encouraging your friends and family members to drive sober, and reporting dangerous drivers, sometimes, accidents happen despite your best efforts.
If you are involved in an accident with a drunk driver, you have the right to legal recourse. Not only may the drunk driver face criminal penalties, but you may also be able to file a civil claim, too.
A civil action against a drunk driver can help you recover compensation for all of the losses that you suffer during and after the accident, such as medical expenses, property damage costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.
To learn more about recovering compensation, filing a claim, and exploring the possibility of a civil action, call a car accident attorney.
How Our Jacksonville Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
The dangers of drinking and driving, driving while intoxicated, and driving while impaired are very real, and these acts lead to hundreds of injuries and deaths every year in Florida, Georgia and across the U.S.
If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident and suffered injuries, or if you have lost a loved one to the negligence of a drunk driver, do not wait any longer to call the experienced Jacksonville car accident attorneys at The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic.
We are available to chat now, either online or on the phone. Contact us today to learn more about your rights after an accident with a drunk driver.
The rates of drinking and driving in Florida and the United States tend to increase during the holiday season. That means the number of car accidents, injuries, and fatalities also skyrocket during this time of the year.
The Dangers of Drinking and Driving
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-impaired driving accounts for approximately one-third of all crash fatalities in the United States.
Drinking and Driving Over the Holidays
The dangers of drinking and driving are especially concerning over the holidays.
There is no doubt about it – car accident rates during the holidays are higher than they are during other days of the year. Specifically, New Year’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day are particularly deadly.
It is believed that one of the biggest reasons for the increase in traffic fatalities during the holidays is the consumption of alcohol among drivers. This is especially true at New Year’s. During the New Year’s period, spanning four years, drinking and driving caused 42 percent of traffic fatalities.
Tips for a Safe and Accident-Free Holiday Season of Travel
The best thing that you can do this holiday season to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you, including your own passengers, is to make a commitment to drive sober. While you may think that you may be able to get away with one or two drinks just fine, do not risk it. If you will be driving this holiday season, say no to alcohol that is offered to you.
Driving sober is not the only thing that you can do, though. You can also make sure that your loved ones and friends drive sober, too.
While it may be difficult to do in the moment, taking someone’s keys can prevent them from getting a hefty fine and facing criminal charges – and can even save their life and the lives of others on the road.
Instead, take a note of the vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number, pull over to a safe area, and call the police. When you report drivers whom you believe to be drunk, you are doing others a valuable service.
Accidents caused by drinking and driving are tragic, and even more heartbreaking as they are 100 percent preventable. Be part of the solution, not the problem, this holiday season.
What to Do If You Are in an Accident with a Drunk Driver
Even though you may commit to driving sober, encouraging your friends and family members to drive sober, and reporting dangerous drivers, sometimes, accidents happen despite your best efforts.
A civil action against a drunk driver can help you recover compensation for all of the losses that you suffer during and after the accident, such as medical expenses, property damage costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.
To learn more about recovering compensation, filing a claim, and exploring the possibility of a civil action, call a car accident attorney.
How Our Jacksonville Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
The dangers of drinking and driving, driving while intoxicated, and driving while impaired are very real, and these acts lead to hundreds of injuries and deaths every year in Florida, Georgia and across the U.S.
We are available to chat now, either online or on the phone. Contact us today to learn more about your rights after an accident with a drunk driver.