With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, many residents of the Philadelphia area will be celebrating this weekend. While the nature of the celebrations will vary, in many situations alcohol will be consumed and people who are intoxicated will decide to drive. This action could lead to a devastating outcome should a car crash occur. It is possible that other people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time could be seriously injured, or even die, in a crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between the years of 2009 and 2013, nationwide, a total of 276 people died in crashes that occurred over what are referred to as St. Patrick’s Day weekends. While it is possible that alcohol did not play a role in all of those crashes, in 2013, out of every five crashes that occurred, two of them involved drivers who were drunk.
The tragic thing about drunk driving accidents is that they are preventable. Revelers who know that they will be attending a St. Patrick’s Day event can plan ahead for an alternate form of transportation. In addition to calling a sober friend for a ride, rideshare services and taxis are available to transport people from one place to another. Public transportation is also an option.
When someone is hurt or loses a loved one in a crash that is the result of a drunk driver that person could decide to take legal action. Those who are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit would likely benefit from contacting a lawyer sooner rather than later.
