Next week will mark the start of a new decade. Many individuals will be heading out on New Year’s Eve to celebrate this event with other partygoers. Some will attend house parties at a friend or family member’s house. Whatever your plans are, make sure to remain extra vigilant for drunk drivers out on the roads here in Waco.
There’s a significant uptick in drunk driving arrests and alcohol-involved crashes on both New Year’s Eve and Day according to NU Property Casualty 360. Data published by the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows that New Year’s Day is the deadliest day for motorists to take to the road. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from 2015 showed that 42% of all crashes that year on New Year’s Eve were alcohol-involved.
Many jurisdictions have laws on the books that allow business owners and hosts to be held civilly and sometimes criminally liable for their party-goers actions. This is especially the case if they allow their customer or guest to leave a party and get behind the wheel of a car even though they know that an individual is intoxicated.
Motorists who are intoxicated often have slow reflexes. This may cause them to unexpectedly accelerate their vehicle or to follow too closely to others in front of them. Individuals who are drunk or drugged may experience delayed reaction times when approaching a stoplight or sign. Intoxicated motorists may not have the visual acuity to see persons or things that enter their field of vision. These individuals may also have a poor ability to assess distances. These are all factors that make drunk motorists more apt to cause a crash.
Medical treatment following an automobile collision can be costly. This is especially the case if you suffer a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury. You may find that you need a lifetime of care if this happens. This is why you need a car accidents attorney on your side. Your Texas lawyer can request compensation that will help you get the medical care that you deserve. In doing so, your attorney will be able to send a message to others that bad behavior behind the wheel won’t be tolerated anymore.