DUI Arrests During The Holiday Season

The holiday season is the perfect time of the year to have some quality time with friends and family. Everyone’s busy giving and receiving gifts, attending parties, shopping and enjoying the most magical time of the year. That being said, holiday season is also that time of the year when there’s an increase in drunk driving. And this inevitably results in a greater number of DUI arrests and accidents.

The trend is observed every year between Nov 24 and January 1. With more parties, there is a greater likelihood that more people are under the influence of alcohol. If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, contact a Birmingham car accident lawyer right away.

DUI Statistics During Holiday Season

The bulk of DUI accidents in the holiday season take place during the month of November. The number of crashes and DUI-related fatalities peak during the week between Christmas Eve and New Year.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 300 people on average die in DUI accidents during this week alone every year. From 2012 to 2016, a total of 3,995 died in a DUI accident during the month of December. Of these, 781 lost their lives in the final month of 2016 in drunk-driving accidents.

To put these numbers in context, they represent a significantly higher average compared to other months of the year. DUI arrests in the holiday season are nearly two to three times higher than DUI accident average in the other months.

Why Does The Holiday Season Have More DUI Arrests?

The holiday season is marked with festivities, fun and parties. It is perfectly normal for adults to consume more than average alcohol during this time of the year. However, this turns into a problem when drivers choose to drive after consuming alcohol at one of the holiday parties. What seems like a harmless indulgence can turn into a fatal crash.

To counter this trend of more DUI accidents in the holiday season, law enforcement agencies take special measures. It is common to see more checkpoints and DUI saturations screening drivers for drunk driving.

If a police officer suspects that a driver has been drinking, they may be asked to exit the car and undergo field sobriety tests. Although they have the option to refuse a sobriety test, they are required by law to undergo a breathalyzer test. Failure to do so is a violation of the implied consent and carries penalties. If they do get charged with a DUI, the costs can be as high as $10,000 or more.

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama

It is important to be wary of drunk drivers on the road during the holiday season. Often, a DUI accident may take place through no fault of your own. With the increase in holiday season accidents, you may be a victim of a DUI crash.

If that is the case, you may be able to press civil charges against the drunk driver in addition to the criminal penalties. The civil lawsuit helps you seek compensatory damages for your injuries and loss caused by the accident. This is important because an accident can set you back a significant amount in terms of medical treatment costs and repairs to your damaged vehicle.

Here at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, we help you seek a fair compensation for any losses sustained in a DUI accident caused by a negligent driver. If you have been involved in such an accident, contact us today to book a FREE consultation with our Birmingham auto accident attorneys.