Many of us will be heading to events surrounding St. Patrick’s Day, such as parades, parties, and bar crawls. Green beer and green drinks will be served in many of these places, to mark the day.
Even if the drinks are not green, the theme behind most of these celebrations is alcohol, and many who go will be driving their own cars to get to the events. Because the effects of intoxication from drinking or drugs, illegal or prescription, is a slowed-down reaction time to changes in the road, such as a light turning red or the car in front stopping, and impaired physical coordination for necessary driving skills such as steering, reversing, and parking, the result of intoxicated driving is far too often a car accident.
Nationwide, over 38 percent of the drivers involved in fatal St. Patrick’s Day car accidents are over the legal intoxication limit for drivers, or over a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC). These tragedies can be avoided.
Planning Ahead
The best way to protect yourself and others for the upcoming celebrations is to plan ahead. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day:
- Be the designated driver. Staying sober for the holiday to make sure friends and loved ones all get home safely is admirable. Just do not drink. Many times, people believe they are safe having a few drinks, but if you plan on getting behind the wheel, you could wind up with a DUI or an accident, or both.
- Get a designated driver. A friend who is willing to go to holiday events and abstain from drinking alcohol will make it possible for everyone to get home safe. Because this can be a sacrifice, it is a nice gesture to cover the cost of their food and non-alcoholic drinks, and entry to events.
- Arrange a ride home from a friend, neighbor, or family member. If you do not have a designated driver, or the designated driver has also imbibed, call a responsible friend, neighbor, or family member.
- Call a cab or rideshare service. With cabs and rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, you can even have a driver there at a pre-assigned time to get everyone home.
- Take advantage of free rides. There are free and low-cost rides and shuttles offered in many areas on St. Patrick’s Day and other holidays, to get people back and forth from events to residential areas. These are often called Jolley Trolleys. In a similar vein, AAA offers a service called the Tipsy Tow to get people and the vehicle back safely.
Mount Laurel Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Office of David S. Rochman Help Clients Injured by Impaired Motorists
Although many people enjoy the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, too many people have a few drinks then attempt to drive. If you have been injured in a car accident involving an impaired driver, reach out to the Mount Laurel car accident lawyers at the Law Office of David S. Rochman. Our experienced legal team will fight to secure the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us at 856-751-2345 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation. Located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout Mount Laurel and surrounding areas.