The winter holiday season is filled with merriment and causes of celebration, but that often translates to additional problems with drunk drivers. If you have to be out on the roads during the holiday season, make sure you are conscious of the potential risks.
What the stats say about the holidays and drunk driving
Christmas is the least likely day to encounter a drunk driver, but the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Years is filled with accidents caused by intoxication. Year after year, roughly one-third of all fatal crashes involving alcohol occur during that time period. Many more people end up seriously injured as a result of these wrecks.
Why are there so many drunk driving incidents during the holiday season? There are probably several reasons:
- People are celebrating. They have time off work, are visiting with family and generally enjoying the season. That means more people are likely to drink in the first place, and that equates to more drunk drivers on the road.
- People aren’t drinking at home. There are parties at the office, parties at the homes of relatives and parties with friends. Pub crawls and other social events with alcohol are just part of the holiday landscape, and people have to get home afterwards.
- People feel like drinking is expected. Everywhere you go, someone is pushing spiked eggnog, coffee with a little Irish cream liqueur in it and mulled wine. As social creatures, many people drink more than they intend — and some get on the road without realizing they’re impaired.
What happens if you’re hurt or a loved one is killed by a holiday drunk?
A drunk driving accident can devastate your world. If you were hurt or your loved one was killed by a driver who should never have been behind the wheel, you have every right to pursue justice. Protect your interests by speaking to an attorney before you speak to the insurance company.
