Risk of fatal accidents expected to increase this weekend

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the holidays during which people often drink, whether they drink Irish beers or green cocktails. While it can seem like harmless fun to celebrate Saint Patrick, the fact is that all this celebration has the potential to lead to catastrophic accidents when people drive after drinking.

Unfortunately, nearly 300 people died in drunk driving accidents on St. Patrick’s Day between 2012 and 2016. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 60 people died during the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day holiday alone.

What is being done to stop drunk drivers?

Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are aware of this increase in fatal accidents on St. Patrick’s Day, and in response, they often ramp up enforcement efforts to stop drunk drivers before the can cause an accident.

There are also massive awareness campaigns in place to remind drivers that drunk driving – and even buzzed driving – is dangerous and completely avoidable.

Unfortunately, too many drivers miss or ignore these messages.

What can I do about drunk driving accidents?

The easiest way for individuals to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents this weekend is to not drive drunk. We can also make sure we keep our friends and family members from driving if they have been drinking by arranging for sober drivers or a place to stay.

What if an accident still happens?

Unfortunately, individuals and law enforcement agencies can only do so much to stop drunk drivers in Florida. In situations where a drunk driver causes a serious or fatal car crash, victims and their family members should understand their right to take legal action against the responsible party. Doing so cannot undo a traumatic accident, but it can help victims and their families recover damages and begin to move forward.