What Can You Do to Reduce the Risk of Injury This Year?
The holidays are here…a time to join with friends and family to celebrate and give thanks. For many of us, that means office or social gatherings, often with a little bit of holiday cheer. Unfortunately, the increased opportunities to participate in communal imbibing also equate to an increased risk of accident and injury on the roads.
What the Statistics Say about the Impact of Holiday Drinking on Auto Accident Rates
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported more than 200 alcohol-related fatalities on the nation’s roadways last year, all of which could have been avoided. Shockingly, those drunk-driving fatalities made up more than half of all the deaths on the roads during the holidays—the total number of fatalities nationwide was approximately 350. By some estimates, nearly three times as many people die in alcohol-related accidents over Christmas and New Years than during the rest of the year.
The National Safety Council (NSC) found that, in about one of every three motor vehicle accident fatalities throughout the calendar year 2020, the driver causing the accident had a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher (the legal limit in most states). During the year-end holidays, though, that rate went up dramatically, to approximately 39%.
Things You Can Do to Minimize the Risk of an Alcohol-Related Car Accident during the Holidays
There are a number of simple steps you can take to dramatically reduce your risk of injury in a drunk-driving accident this year:
- Stay home—Have the party at your house or choose to spend your time with family, rather than at an office or other social gathering. In particular, try to avoid being on the roads at those times when more drunk drivers may be out and about—late at night, on weekends and early in the morning.
- Let someone else drive—If you want to enjoy a little holiday cheer, ask someone else to be the designated driver or set up a rideshare before you go to a party
- Pay attention on the roads—Statistics indicate that there will be more intoxicated drivers on the roads. Keep your eyes open for them. If you observe anyone weaving back and forth or otherwise appearing to be impaired behind the wheel, get off the road and call 911.
- Make certain your vehicle is in top condition before getting on the road—Be sure that you can brake if necessary, and check that all warning lights and signals are functional, so that a drunk driver will see them.
Contact the Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we have aggressively protected the rights of personal injury victims across the state of Texas for more than four decades, including people who have been hurt in motor vehicle accidents involving a drunk driver. We have a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the laws and procedures governing personal injury lawsuits and will make certain that all pleadings and other documents are accurately and timely filed. We will be your advocate throughout the legal process, from the filing of a personal injury lawsuit through the gathering of evidence to trial or settlement. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
