Whether you prefer champagne toasts, eggnog with brandy, Tennessee whiskey or apple cider with scotch, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to indulge with friends and family this holiday season. Unfortunately, even if you make it a point to enjoy a few cocktails responsibly, you cannot rely on others to do the same.
Drunk driving is a serious concern around Christmas and New Year’s, and impaired motorists are responsible for hundreds of fatalities and thousands of serious injuries during the holiday season every year. In fact, according to the New York Times, January 1 is the most dangerous day of the year in regard to fatal wrecks involving drunk drivers.
Of course, people get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol every single day, and a drunk driving crash can theoretically happen at any time. If you were hurt in a collision with an impaired motorist and you want to hold the liable party financially accountable, contact the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
George Fusner has been a practicing attorney since 1977, and he is proud to represent car and truck wreck victims throughout Tennessee. Call 615-251-0005 or 800-427-8960 to schedule a free case evaluation with a car wreck lawyer in Nashville.
Read on to learn how you can reduce the risk of getting into a drunk driving collision on New Year’s Eve:
- Keep Your Distance
Maintaining plenty of stopping distance between your vehicle and the one just ahead will ensure you have time to react should you spot any erratic driving. If you do notice signs of drunk driving, which might include drifting, swerving, speeding, and ignoring traffic signals, stay back, and call local law enforcement if possible. The police will want to know the make, model, and direction of travel of the vehicle so they can send an officer out to assess the situation.
- Exercise Caution at Intersections
Drunk driving accidents often occur at intersections when impaired motorists fail to stop for cars that have the right of way. For this reason, you should always approach intersections with caution, especially when drunk drivers are most likely to be on the roads. Always yield to oncoming vehicles, and do not cross traffic unless it appears safe to do so.
- Opt for a Route with Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are legal in the state of Tennessee, and you can expect police to be conducting them on New Year’s Eve. These roadblocks provide law enforcement the opportunity to identify impaired motorists who may not necessarily be exhibiting any obvious signs of drunk driving. Since the police presence that sobriety checkpoints require deters drunk driving in the surrounding area, adding one to your route may reduce the chances of coming upon an impaired motorist.
Sadly, you can follow all the tips above and still end up in a drunk driving collision that causes catastrophic injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck with an impaired motorist, contact the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
Call 800-427-8960 or 615-251-0005 to schedule a free consultation with a car wreck attorney in Nashville. If you want to learn more about drunk driving accident claims in Tennessee, visit USAttorneys.com.
