Sobering Statistics About New Year's Eve Car Accidents

As the countdown begins, the excitement, joy, and happiness to ring in the New Year with family and friends are most often celebrated with drinks. It is a happy occasion, after all. However, too much drinking becomes a problem better yet a hazard for not just the drunk individual but also others, especially if they are driving. And this is clearly evident from the statistics given below:

New Year’s Car Accident Statistics

Car accident statistics around New Year's Eve are alarming. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 42 percent of the deaths that occur around New Year’s Eve in traffic accidents are caused due to drunk driving.

Furthermore, statistics released by NHTSA showed that in December 2010, 2,597 individuals died in car crashes. In just a span of 5 years, from 2001 and 2005, 36 fatalities occurred each day resulting from drunk driving. However, this number soared to 45 per day during the Christmas holidays and sky-rocketed to 54 fatalities daily during the New Year holiday period.

Studies on traffic accidents carried by SafeAuto.com indicated that between the years 2008 and 2012, 1st January witnessed the highest percentage of fatalities that occurred due to drunk driving in comparison to other holidays and days.

Although people of all ages are involved in drunk driving, it is estimated that the age group between 21 and 24 is mostly likely to be involved in alcohol-impaired driving accidents.

Traffic Accidents Can Result in Serious Injuries

As common as car accidents are around New Year’s holiday season, they can result in deaths and serious injuries that may require costly treatments and surgeries, such as:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken limbs and disfigurement
• Internal organ bleeding
• Paralysis
• Chest injuries
• Fractures
• Back sprains
• Whiplash
• Facial fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries   

What Should You do After a Car Accident during New Year’s Eve?

To minimize your risk of a car accident, avoid driving after drinking. Ask a sober driver to drive you home when drunk. Do not sit behind the wheel under any circumstances as it can put your life and the life of others at risk.

However, if you or a loved one gets injured in a car accident during New Year’s Eve due to another driver’s negligence, then it is advisable to seek immediate medical assistance to prevent loss of blood and to get treatment in a timely manner. Call our experienced Dallas car accident lawyers so that we can investigate the accident scene right away and collect crucial evidence, which will be needed to establish liability against the responsible parties. Our attorney will handle every aspect of your case, from investigation to filing a claim and negotiation. We’ll fight your case aggressively to make sure that you get a full and fair compensation for the injuries, pain, suffering, property damage, and losses that you incurred due to someone else’s negligence.