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Drunk Driving on New Year’s
Dec 22, 2016 by Adler Markoff & Associates
There are always drunk drivers on the roadways that we must watch out for, but this is especially the case on New Year’s Eve. According to statistics, there are 71% more crashes involving alcohol or drugs in the 12-hour window between 6pm on December 31 and 6am on January 1. On average, there are 140 deaths on New Year’s Eve as a result of drunk or impaired driving. These numbers are so high for numerous reasons, from the abundance of holiday parties involving alcohol to poor decision-making. For many, New Year’s Eve signifies a night of overindulgence. Despite all the campaigns advocating for safe driving and smart decision-making on this boozy holiday, many people still make the mistake of getting behind the wheel after they’ve had a few too many cocktails.

One of the best ways to keep you and your loved ones safe on New Year’s Eve after drinking is to not drive yourself. These days there are numerous handy car services out there, including Uber and Lyft. If you are going out to a holiday party, leave your car at home and instead opt for one of these reliable services to get you to and from your destination. Unfortunately, even if you make the right decision and take an Uber to the office party, chances are someone else will not be so wise. Many drunk driving accidents that take place on involve innocent, responsible drivers who have not been drinking.

New Year’s Eve Drunk Driving Statistics
In order to give you a better idea of just how serious a problem drunk driving on New Year’s Eve is, let’s look at a few important statistics:

January 1st is the worst time throughout the year for drunk driving accidents involving impaired drivers
Many people get behind the wheel the morning after New Year’s Eve, not realizing they are still intoxicated
January 1st has topped July 4th as the day with the most drunk driving arrests
Nearly 30 people die in the U.S. every day, thanks to drunk driving accidents
A 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. glass of wine, and 1.5 oz shot are all considered one standard drink
The U.S. spends nearly $200 billion annually on costs related to drunk driving
Drunk drivers who are pulled over and arrested are likely to have driven impaired around 80 times before the first time they are arrested
We hope you can see just how dangerous driving drunk is on New Year’s Eve, and any time. We hope you choose to make the right decision this year and either remain sober, stay with the host of the party, or take an Uber home.

If you have been involved in an accident involving a drunk driver on New Year’s Eve, you should do the following:

Call the police. They will be able to determine if the driver is drunk and how to proceed accordingly.
Seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it is important that you see a doctor, as this will be an important part of your lawsuit, should your case go to court.
Refrain from posting on social media. Your posts can get you in trouble and have a negative impact on your case, so just stay away from your social media accounts for a while after the accident.
Contact an attorney. A skilled drunk driving attorney will be able to advise you of the next steps and protect your rights.
If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident on New Year’s, please contact AMA Law today.