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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it is also one of the most dangerous times to be on Northern Mississippi roadways. Too often what should be a joyful season of celebration is marred by tragic drunk driving accidents.
Each year, Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman’s team of experienced drunk driving accident attorneys are called on to help families in Shelby County, Tennessee, and Desoto and Tate counties in Mississippi cope with the trauma drunk driving accidents cause.
Know the Facts About Drunk Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Drunk driving is a problem on our nation’s roads every day, but it’s more prevalent during the holidays.”
As BACtrack notes, “The most traveled holiday period of the year is Thanksgiving weekend, and DUI arrests are at their highest between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year’s weekend. Thanksgiving Eve is even referred to as “Black Wednesday,” as it may be the busiest night of the year for bars. Social binge drinking (consumption of a high volume of alcohol in a short period of time) is also common at this time of year.”
“So strong is the temptation to drink during holiday weekends, that even people who are moderate consumers of alcohol tend to increase their drinking rates.” In fact, the rate of drinking increases so dramatically during the holidays that “a quarter of the $49-billion-a-year distilled spirits industry’s profits come from the month between Thanksgiving and the New Year.”
This year, the NHTSA is also emphasizing that alcohol is not the only chemical that can make driving more dangerous by proclaiming, “if you feel different, you drive different.” “Whether the drug is obtained legally or illegally, drug-impaired driving can be deadly for drivers, passengers, and others on the road.” This is an important tip to remember for anyone who claims that buzzed driving is not the same as drunk driving.
With these facts in mind, it may seem like drinking and driving, or driving while impaired by other chemical substances, is inevitable during the holiday season. But as the NHTSA notes, all alcohol and drug related crashes and fatalities are 100% preventable.
The Lawyers That Listen
There is no reason someone who is intoxicated should ever get behind a wheel. This is why drug and alcohol impaired driving is considered negligent or reckless behavior in a civil lawsuit, and why it is punishable as a criminal offense.
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, we hold drunk drivers accountable for their poor choices and the harm they cause by filing civil lawsuits against them. The fact that someone was celebrating the holidays is no excuse for driving drunk, and it is no reason to let them off the hook.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunk driving accident, and you are ready to seek compensation for the harm you have endured, our experienced team of attorneys is here for you. We serve clients in Shelby County, Tennessee, and Desoto and Tate counties in Mississippi, as well as the surrounding area. Please contact us today to set up a meeting.
