Fourth of July DUIs and Drunk Driving Facts
- July 1, 2016 @ 8:31 pm
- Written by adminrtl
- Categories: DUI | Florida | Holiday | Your Rights
In 2015, 27.5% of all Florida traffic fatalities included a drunk driver. With the summer holidays upon us and jubilant vacationers, we thought it would be a good time to cover drunk driving accidents, the importance of planning ahead, and how a Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer can help if you’ve been injured in a DUI accident.
Fourth of July & Deadly DUIs
The Fourth of July is truly an iconic, American holiday. The nation proudly celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence with get-togethers and fireworks. Unfortunately, this patriotic holiday is also known for an increase in DUIs. In fact, the Fourth of July holiday is on the deadliest because of drunk drivers.
This year, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are all three day weekends. That means people are handing out at picnics and barbecues all weekend long, possibly drinking a few beers or wine coolers. The alcohol, combined with the heat, can seriously impair anyone’s ability to drive.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shares that 41% of the traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday in 2014 involved a drunk driver. That means almost half of the deaths from car accidents during the holiday could’ve been prevented.
Plan Ahead to Stay Safe
Most of us know when we are planning to have a few beers at a friend’s party or at the bar. That means it’s easy to plan ahead to get home safely. A designated driver, a taxi driver, or nose-diving into a friends couch for the night are all better options than getting behind the wheel drunk.
If you see a friend who is about to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks, stop them! There’s no “safe” amount of alcohol and buzzed driving is still drunk driving. Alcohol impairs vision and reaction time—two things that are imperative for safe driving. At night, they’re even more important as driving in the dark reduces visibility.
If you’re a parent, make sure to teach your teens about the dangers of drunk driving. MADD indicates that 25% of Florida kids between 12-20 admitted to drinking alcohol at least once within the past month. With school out for summer and college students home, the chance for experimentation with alcohol may increase.
While it is important that teens understand that the legal drinking age is 21, it’s also important that they know to call their parents for a ride if they get in a bad situation. If a friend has decided to drink before driving them home, let them know to call you for a ride rather than getting in the car with a drunk driver. Kids make mistakes—drunk driving shouldn’t be one of them. Openly communicating with our kids about alcohol and the privilege of driving is important, as is setting the example.
It can also be helpful to learn how to spot a drunk driver and what to do if you encounter a drunk driver on the road.
Call a Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
While Fourth of July drunk driving accidents are notorious for their high mortality rates, any drunk driving accident can be dangerous and have serious consequences. If you or a loved one have been injured because of someone’s decision to drive drunk, a skilled Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer can help you fight for compensation.
Injuries stemming from a drunk driving accident can have long lasting health repercussions. Plus, some injured parties are unable to work while they recover, leading to lost wages in addition to growing medical bills. You shouldn’t have to feel like you’re drowning in medical debt because of injuries suffered in a drunk driving accident.
Consulting with a Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer can help you start planning for the future. By providing you with realistic, honest legal advice, your Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer can assist you in moving forward through the civil court system. Because of the Florida statute of limitations on automobile accident, it’s important to speak to a Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer to begin your claim as soon as possible.