Impaired Drivers Can Cause More Injuries over the Holidays

The holidays provide us with a much-needed break and the opportunity to enjoy one another’s company, but they also mean that there are a greater number of impaired drivers on our roads. Impaired drivers are dangerous drivers who are responsible for some of the deadliest traffic accidents. 

The holidays are traditionally a time to celebrate with family and friends. While most of us will be doing this in a more socially distant way this year, there are a few constants that we can count on, and one of them is that the holidays and celebratory drinks go hand and hand. In fact, serious accidents caused by impaired drivers increase significantly around the holidays, and this year is not expected to be any different in this regard. 

If an impaired driver leaves you injured over the holidays, it’s in your best interest to work closely with an experienced Kansas car accident attorney. 

Impaired Drivers Are Out There

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shares some significant statistics regarding impaired driving during the holiday season, including:

• Impaired driving spikes over the holidays.
• From Christmas to New Years of 2018, 285 traffic fatalities were caused by impaired driving.  
• In 2018, impaired driving accounted for nearly a third of all 10,511 traffic fatalities.

Keep in mind that accidents caused by impaired driving are completely preventable, and always make your own best choices.

Your Holiday Safety Checklist

There are specific steps you can take to help ensure the safety of everyone on our roads this holiday season, including:

• Have a Plan – If you will be celebrating outside of your home and are in the mood to raise a glass or two, have a plan in place for how you’re going to get home. This can involve enlisting a designated driver, hiring an Uber, catching a ride with a sober friend, or making alternate plans. Finally, if you have taken on the role of designated driver, take the responsibility very seriously and don’t drink.
• Be a Good Friend – If one of the members of your socially distanced crew has had a drink or two too many, speak up and offer him or her a ride or another safe transportation option. Don’t be afraid to thwart a dangerous driver’s plan to get behind the wheel by whatever means are available to you. You could help save a life this holiday season. 
• Call 911 – If you’re sharing the road with a driver who is obviously impaired, don’t hesitate to call 911 and alert the authorities. Also, contact 911 if you are hit by a drunk driver, as the police can arrest the driver, who might then face criminal charges of driving under the influence (DUI). 

2020 has been, by all accounts, a difficult year, and the holidays this year could prove especially problematic (in relation to impaired driving). Make it your mission to help everyone stay safe out there.

An Experienced Kansas Car Accident Attorney Can Help

If an impaired driver leaves you or someone you love injured this holiday season, the dedicated Kansas car accident attorney at Pyle Law is well-positioned to help. Our resourceful legal team has reserves of experience guiding claims like yours toward favorable resolutions, and we’re here to help you, too. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 620-374-9299 today.

Picture by  Riccardo Bresciani in Pexels