Common Sense Sometimes Not-So-Common on New Year’s Eve Roadways

By Zane T. Cagle | December 29, 2017 | Car Accidents, Drunk Driving, Featured, Premises Liability, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wrongful Death

Temptation to Drink and Drive Runs High on New Year’s Eve–Resist

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

We all love to plan our New Year’s Eve parties as they are great fun. It is also one of the most deadly nights on the roadways. People often do a lot of planning for the party but do not plan their safe travel home. Once at the party, they drink and then are tempted to make poor decisions such as climbing behind the wheel with the thoughts of “I’ve just got to go a few blocks”, or “I’m really not that drunk”. Those are often the last “thoughts” people have before being involved in a serious motor vehicle crash involving alcohol.

You should never be tempted to drink and drive any day or night of the year, but on NYE you are even more likely to be caught in one of the the numerous sobriety stops. Worse yet, you increase your likelihood of being involved in a crash. Crashes involving drunk drivers negatively impact all lives involved, often indefinitely. If you aren’t worried about hurting yourself or others, there is the problem of dealing with a DWI conviction. If you hurt others, a DWI attorney may have a difficult to impossible task of trying to defend you.

Make Sure Your Poor Party Decisions Only Impact Your Hangover, Not Your Life

Alcohol related car crashes are avoidable which makes them more tragic. We’ve all made a bad decision under the influence. Just be sure your bad decision only impact your hangover, not the rest of your life. Those who climb behind the wheel after they have been drinking are the definition of “negligence” “failure to use reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury to another”. The only way you have not heard about the extreme danger of drunk driving is if you have lived in a cave for the last 30 years.

After the multiple fatalities over the Christmas holiday weekend in Missouri, each of us should pay close attention to roadway safety.

If You Are Going Out, Plan:

• Designate a sober driver to make sure you get home safely. No, this person should not be just the “least drunk person in the group”, rather they must be SOBER.
• Save the number of a local cab service.
• Download our InjuryAttorney App that will call a local cab service for you–free for iPhone and Droid users
• Download the Uber or Lyft apps depending on your area
• Consider hiring a shuttle or limousine service to transport you and your friends to and from the event
• Arrange a hotel stay for you and your friends on the evening of the event so no one considers driving

If You Are Hosting a Party:

• Offer some non-alcoholic beverages for those designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink
• As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the sober designate driver and has a plan to get home
• Provide plenty of food to keep guests from drinking on an empty stomach
• Avoid too many salty snacks which tends to make people more thirsty and drink more
• If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base such as fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base
• Plan activities like party games or door prizes. Planned activities engage people and make for less consumption of alcohol.
• Keep an eye on your guests, especially those that seem hammered

Drunk Driving Motor Vehicle Crashes

Buzzed driving is Drunk driving

If you are injured in a motor vehicle crash of any kind and the crash is not your fault, you will need an attorney. In the first few days and weeks after going to the ER due to a car crash, you probably will not know the full extent of your injury. Since you don’t know the full extent, you absolutely should not discuss your health with ANY insurance adjuster. You can go ahead and move forward on your property damage claim, but don’t discuss your injuries with the insurance adjuster. Call an experienced car crash attorney.

At The Cagle Law Firm, we represent injured victims of motor vehicle crashes. When alcohol is involved in car crashes, it sparks annoyance and anger as we know impaired drivers impact all of us. Unfortunately, most all of us have been touched by a drunk driver whether it was the loss or serious injury of a family member or friend. It can easily be stopped if we each practice some common sense.

So, stay safe on this dangerous holiday weekend. Slow down, pay attention and look out for your friends. Drive sober.

Our attorneys can be reached seven days a week, at (314) 276-1681

About The Author

Zane T. Cagle

Zane T. Cagle is the founding president and lead trial attorney at The Cagle Law Firm. With a strong dedication to his clients, he has built a reputation for his tenacious representation in personal injury cases, ensuring each client's unique story is heard. Areas of Practice: Personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death. Bar Admissions: Supreme Court of Missouri, Illinois & Kentucky. Superior Court of U.S. Virgin Islands Education: Washington University School of Law. Awards: Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers Association, 10 Best in Missouri for Customer Satisfaction.

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