South Carolina car accident lawyers explain how to stay safe on the road
The holiday season in South Carolina should be a festive time of year. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous times on the road thanks in large part to drunk drivers, who often cause serious car accidents.
“The year-end holiday period from Thanksgiving through New Year's is always one of the most dangerous times on U.S. roads and highways,” according to the National Road Safety Foundation, adding that the danger comes from “a combination of factors that include impairment from alcohol and drugs.”
So just how bad are drunk driving accidents during the holidays? How bad is the problem in South Carolina? And what can be done to prevent holiday drunk driving accidents? Our South Carolina car accident attorneys at Johnson + Johnson, Attorneys At Law in Lexington explain.
Drunk driving accidents during holidays a serious problem
Drunk driving during the holiday season has long been a serious problem. That’s why for the past 39 years, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has designated December as National Impaired Driving Awareness Month. “Two of the most celebrated dates in December – Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – are also among the most dangerous,” according to MADD.
So just how bad is the problem? Between 2017 and 2021, drunk drivers in December caused 4,500 car accident deaths nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In December 2021 alone, impaired drivers caused 1,013 traffic fatalities nationwide. That’s why the National Safety Council (NSC) also supports MADD’s campaign this month to educate drivers about the dangers of drunk driving.
South Carolina has a lot of holiday drunk driving accidents
While drunk driving during the holidays is a problem nationwide, the situation is even worse in South Carolina. In fact, one study ranked South Carolina the 8th deadliest state in the country for holiday drunk driving accidents.
The study conducted by Value Penguin compared each state based on the number of drunk driving fatalities on Christmas and Thanksgiving between 2010 and 2018. During that time period, South Carolina had the 8th highest percentage of fatal drunk driving accidents. Specifically, there were 38 drunk driving accident fatalities on Christmas in South Carolina, along with 33 on Thanksgiving during that time period.
What is being done to prevent drunk driving accidents?
Through January 1st, the NHTSA is working with state and local law enforcement throughout the country as part of its “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
The NHTSA program aims to reduce drunk driving in two different ways: education and enforcement. In terms of education, state and local police nationwide will educate drivers about the dangers of drunk driving. As for enforcement, people driving under the influence can expect to be pulled over by police, who will be out in force to enforce drunk driving laws.
What can I do to prevent drunk driving accidents?
There are several ways you can prevent being involved in a drunk driving accident. Such solutions include:
- Don’t drink if you’re going out to celebrate with family and friends.
- Plan ahead and have a designated driver who can drive you home.
- Use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get home safely.
- Host a holiday party yourself and make sure everyone at your party has a designated driver or rideshare drive home.
Why should I hire a South Carolina car accident attorney?
You might think you don’t need a lawyer if a drunk driver crashes into your car in South Carolina. After all, the state has an at-fault car insurance system. So in theory, the at-fault party should pay for all your accident-related expenses.
Unfortunately, that’s not how things always work. Don’t be surprised if you have a hard time getting the money you rightfully deserve for your crash. That’s why our South Carolina car accident lawyers at Johnson + Johnson, Attorneys At Law want to help. We know the laws that apply to drunk driving accidents in South Carolina. We know what strategies can be the most effective. And we’re prepared to do the work that needs to be done to do the job right.
Put your trust in a South Carolina law firm that gets results. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Lexington, SC car accident attorney focused on winning your case. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay if we get you a financial settlement or verdict.
