Drive Safe, and Sober, this Holiday Season  

The holidays are a wonderful time in New England and a great time to catch up with friends and family at the myriad of parties and events hosted this time of year. When alcohol is involved though, sometimes the party can get dangerous. Between Christmas and New Year’s, AAA reports two to three times more deaths from alcohol-related crashes than any other time of the year. Fatalities like these are particularly unsettling considering drinking and driving is completely preventable. Throughout the year, approximately one-third of all auto accident deaths involve alcohol-impaired drivers. This amounts to an average of one alcohol-related driving death every 45 minutes. As Providence car accident injury lawyers, Tapalian Law sees victims hurt every day in car crashes, however these statistics are still startling and serve as a reminder to us all to enjoy the holidays, but do so safely. Don’t add yourself to these sobering statistics.

Cutting Down on Rhode Island Drunk Drivers

Rhode Island is serious about cracking down on drunk driving. In 2016, the Rhode Island State Police launched a new sober driving campaign dubbed “Beyond the Crash”. The campaign’s message is similar to the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign created years back and many Rhode Islanders recognize the popular slogan. During designated periods, typically during the holidays when drunk driving accident fatalities increase, the RIDOT works with state and local police to create patrols with the specific goal of cracking down on drinking and driving. Most alcohol-related car crashes occur during the evening hours and on weekends.

Rhode Island defines driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above .08% as a crime. This is the same for Massachusetts and all states, with the exception of Utah. A multitude of factors can influence each individual’s BAC. Common factors are age, gender, weight, rate of consumption, drink strength, metabolism, medications, and more. Not knowing exactly how alcohol will impact your body, individuals should not drive at all after having a drink. You can still be impaired if your BAC is at any level above .00%. Those impaired under age 21 or with children in the car may face charges even if they are under the legal limit. If you plan to attend a holiday party this season and consume any type of alcohol, plan ahead and have a designated driver, an Uber, or cab on call for a safe ride home. Party hosts should collect all keys at the beginning of the party and be prepared to have impaired guests sleep over or get a safe ride home from a non-impaired designated driver or ride service.

Contact Tapalian Law if You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver

Impaired driving crashes cost the U.S. over $50 million each year. Many of the drivers who cause alcohol-related car crashes are repeat offenders. Drivers involved in fatal crashes with a BAC of .08 or higher are actually six times more likely to have had a prior conviction for impaired driving. Not only do drunk driving crashes result in fatalities, they often involve severe personal injury to those involved. As Rhode Island drunk driving injury lawyers, we have helped countless clients seek compensation for their drunk driving accident related injuries. Do not let the negligence and reckless of a drunk driver take a toll on you. If a reckless driver has hurt you in a car crash, they need to be held accountable for your personal injury and financial damages. With the help of Rhode Island personal injury lawyer David Tapalian, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries, expenses, and pain and suffering. Call our Providence law office today at 401-552-5000 or use our contact form to reach us.