For many people, New Year’s Eve is one of the best holidays of the year. They get to spend it with the people they care about and they get to bring in the new year with excitement. Unfortunately, when you combine the fact that many people drink on NYE with the fact that many people are very drowsy by the time they head home, it is not hard to see why car accidents are more likely than on most other days of the year.
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we hope everyone gets to and from their New Year’s Eve gatherings safely and successfully. To that effect, we have provided some tips to help you and your family stay safe. However, if you are involved in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact us at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Do not drink and drive
This seems simple but it bears pointing out. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 35% of accidents around New Year’s Eve involve drivers who were drunk. Make a plan ahead of time to either stay at the location you will be celebrating, car pool with someone who is not drinking, or hire a car to take you home. Spending just a few dollars can not only keep you safe, it can protect you from the expensive mistake of getting a DUI.
Pay attention to the road
Another common cause of accidents on New Year’s Eve is being distracted. It is common for drivers to be paying attention to many things while they are driving. They may have several people in the car and everyone is chatting about different topics. It may be that the driver is trying to figure out where to go and using their GPS, or is reading or sending text messages. Any distraction can significantly increase the chances of being involved in a car accident and we urge drivers to pay attention to the road.
Do not speed
One interesting fact is that there are fewer fatal car accidents around New Year’s Eve than on other days of the year. Why? Because people are less likely to speed. Most people know that there is likely a higher police presence during the holidays than on other days of the year. As a result, they driver more slowly to avoid getting at ticket. When you consider that the majority of fatal car accidents involve speeding, it is easy to see that not speeding can help keep you safe.
Call us right away if you are involved in an accident
If you end up in a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will consider your experience, the evidence, and other factors to determine if it makes sense for you to file a personal injury claim.