Who doesn’t love a good holiday party? You may attend a few yourself, but you also know that you shouldn’t get behind the wheel if you have too much to drink. Not everyone shares your sense of responsibility, however.
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that the number of arrests for drunk driving goes up between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. You may feel as though you have enough trouble protecting yourself from intoxicated drivers during the rest of year, but now, you may need to double your efforts to do so.
Facts and statistics
Some sources estimate that approximately 1,200 car crash fatalities occur during the holiday season due to impaired drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around 25,000 injuries that occur in traffic accidents during the holidays are attributable to alcohol. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers says that 52 percent of the fatal accidents that occur on Christmas day involve a drunk driver while 57 percent do on New Year’s Eve/Day.
During this time of the year, people tend to forget that it takes time to metabolize alcohol to where it doesn’t pose a threat to safe driving. In fact, time is the only thing that works when it comes to remaining sober. No amount of coffee, cold water or energy drinks will make a drunk driver a safe driver. You could still enjoy those holiday parties without putting yourself or others at risk:
- Call a cab or Uber
- Choose a designated driver
- Consume one drink per hour with food
If you happen to host a holiday bash, you may want to remain sober in order to help friends, family and co-workers get home safely. The law could hold you responsible if one of your guests causes an alcohol-related accident after leaving your party.
If you become the victim of a drunk driver
You can take all of the precautions you possibly can in order to avoid driving drunk, but another driver may not. If you end up the victim of a drunk driver, the disruption to your life could be substantial. Even if you achieve a full recovery, it may take time away from work for which you won’t’ get paid. You will probably incur medical expenses associated with your injuries even if you have health insurance.
Georgia law allows you to seek compensation from a negligent party for the financial losses you sustain after a car accident. If police determine the other driver was drunk, that fact could help you prove negligence on the part of the other driver. Alcohol-related accidents are entirely preventable, and you should not suffer because of another person’s decision to drink and drive.