The holiday season, full of festive gatherings, Christmas parties, and New Year’s Eve celebrations, is meant to be a joyful time. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous times to be on the road. Drunk driving incidents spike during the holidays, causing a surge in car accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
As Miami drunk driving injury lawyers, Aigen Injury Law fights for the rights of Miamians, Floridians, and tourists injured by drunk and negligent drivers. We have a long track record of success, including multiple million-dollar settlements for crash victims.
The Alarming Reality of Drunk Driving During the Holidays
Each year, the holiday season sees a sharp increase in alcohol-related crashes, and national statistics paint a grim picture.
In response, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) launched Never Drive Impaired, a public safety campaign. This initiative aims to reduce impaired driving incidents across the state. According to the initiative’s Impaired Driving Report, there were 5,111 alcohol-confirmed crashes and 407 fatalities in Florida in 2021.
Data from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) consistently shows that the number of alcohol-related accidents increases during the holidays. For instance, December 2019 saw 467 alcohol-impaired crashes, the most of any month that year.
In December 2021, the number of alcohol-confirmed crashes was 917. During Thanksgiving week in 2022, 28% of all fatal crashes involved drugs, alcohol, or both.
Why Are the Holidays So Dangerous for Drivers?
The winter holiday season spans from late November to early January and includes Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve. These events often involve alcohol, and traffic increases as families travel for celebrations.
Many out-of-state drivers also travel to and from Florida during the holidays, resulting in more motorists unfamiliar with the local roads and highways.
This combination of increased traffic, a higher number of impaired drivers leaving holiday parties that involved alcohol, and more unfamiliar motorists creates a seasonal risk. The likelihood of being involved in an accident or injured by an alcohol-impaired driver rises significantly.
3 Safety Tips to Avoid Drunk Driving Crashes This Holiday Season
To stay safe on Miami’s roads during the holidays, remain vigilant and take a proactive approach. Use these tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:
1. Plan Ahead if You’re Drinking
If you’re planning to celebrate with alcohol, make arrangements in advance to get home safely. Since alcohol can stay in your bloodstream for up to 12 hours, avoid drinking and driving on the same day.
Here are some ways to prevent driving while impaired:
- Go to and from events in a taxi or ridesharing service instead of driving yourself
- Stay at a hotel or a friend’s home for the night to avoid the need to drive home
- Travel with a group and designate a sober driver
- Use public transportation
2. Stay Alert for Drunk Drivers
Even if you stay sober, driving during the holiday season means an increased risk of sharing the road with impaired drivers. Be extra cautious, especially at night and during the weekends.
Keep your distance from vehicles that appear to be swerving, veering off their lane, or braking erratically. If a dangerous driver is behind you, let them pass. If necessary, pull over until it is safe to continue driving.
3. Report Suspicious Driving
The Florida Highway Patrol recommends dialing the “Star FHP” number (*347) to report drivers potentially under the influence.
Reporting drunk, impaired, or suspicious drivers can save lives. If you suspect another driver is drunk or impaired, call the number when it is safe to do so and provide as many of the following details as possible:
- The vehicle’s license plate number
- A description of the vehicle (make, model, type, color, etc.)
- The vehicle’s direction
- If you can see them clearly, a description of the driver
What To Do If You’re a Victim of a Drunk Driving Crash
If you’ve done everything possible to keep yourself and your passengers safe but are injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, take immediate action.
- Seek Medical Attention: Call for an ambulance after a crash, even if you don’t feel immediate pain or appear not to be injured. Many crash injury symptoms, such as concussion, can take days or even weeks to appear, so it’s important to be medically evaluated.
- Report the Accident to Law Enforcement: Florida law requires drivers involved in an accident to report it to law enforcement if it causes an injury, death, or damage of at least $500.
- Take Photographs: Take photos of the accident scene, your vehicle’s damages, and any visible evidence of your injuries.
- Collect Witness Information: If possible, speak with witnesses and get their contact information.
- Keep Records: Keep receipts and records of any expenses related to your accident, such as hospital treatments or pain medication. These are vital pieces of evidence that help build your case for compensation.
Aigen Injury Law: Fighting for Victims of Drunk Driving Crashes
The Miami car crash lawyers at Aigen Injury Law have the experience and resources to help you with your drunk driving accident case. You can count on us to protect your rights and seek maximum compensation for your damages.
Drunk driving crashes are preventable, and victims deserve justice. However, critical evidence can fade over time, and acting quickly is essential to protect your rights. Contact Aigen Injury Law and get a free case consultation.