New Year’s Eve Parties and Drunk Driving

As we get ready to ring in 2020, many people are planning to host or attend New Year’s Eve parties. Such parties often revolve around the champagne toast at midnight and often include drinks throughout the evening as well. While having alcoholic beverages to celebrate the New Year can be fun and festive, problems arise when many revelers decide they should try to drive themselves home.

The Devastating Effects of Drunk Driving on New Year’s Eve

The number of drunk driving crashes and fatalities increases sharply on certain holidays, and New Year’s Eve is certainly one of them. Drunk drivers can experience many problems behind the wheel, including:

●    Lack of focus on the road
●    Slower reaction times to avoid accidents
●    Blurred vision
●    Disorientation
●    Falling asleep at the wheel
●    Poor judgment and control

Because of one or more of the above, impaired drivers commonly engage in dangerous or erratic driving behaviors, such as:

●    Driving too slow
●    Excessive speeding
●    Failing to yield or brake for other vehicles, pedestrians, or other obstacles
●    Driving the wrong way on a one-way road
●    Swerving in and out of a lane

All of these behaviors can lead to serious accidents that result in life-changing injuries or death. Many drunk driving victims need emergency transportation to the hospital via ambulance or medevac. They then can need costly medical treatment for weeks or months, which can keep them home from work and from engaging in their regular activities and obligations. Some injuries from drunk driving accidents leave victims with permanent disabilities, or they can leave family members suddenly without a dear loved one. Overall, the losses from drunk driving crashes can be devastating.

Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents

With all of the rideshare options available in this day and age, there is no excuse for people not to seek out a sober driver to get home after a New Year’s Eve party. When people decide to drive drunk on this holiday - or any other day - they should be held fully accountable for the actions and all the harm they cause.

After an accident on New Year’s Eve, you should call 911 immediately. This means that emergency medical personnel will arrive to provide care for your injuries, as well as police officers to investigate the accident. If the other driver seems intoxicated, the police might place them under arrest, and the state might bring charges of driving under the influence (DUI).

Criminal charges are not enough to compensate injured accident victims, however. While the driver might go to jail for a DUI conviction, it is necessary for injured victims to file the right insurance claims or a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

Learn about Your Rights from a Montgomery Car Accident Attorney

Luck Law represents victims of drunk driving crashes, and we are committed to holding dangerous drivers liable for your injuries and losses. We want everyone to stay safe to ring in the New Year but, if you are injured, call 334-262-5455 or contact us online for a case evaluation today.