Holiday DUI Dangers—Staying Safe in California
The holidays are a time for celebration, time with family, and good memories—but for too many people, the holidays are a permanent reminder of tragedy. Thousands of people are injured in DUI accidents during the holiday season every year, and despite extensive efforts to make the roads safe, these accidents continue. If you’re injured in a holiday crash in California, it’s important to discuss your options with a California car accident lawyer.
At Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP, we fight aggressively on behalf of our clients. Attorney C. Patrick Milligan has practiced as an attorney for over 50 years and spends a substantial portion of his time on personal injury claims. He is a committed advocate focused on getting clients the compensation they deserve. Set up a free consultation with our car accident law firm by calling us at 909-894-0812.
Why Holiday DUIs Surge in California
Year after year, holiday DUI accidents wreak havoc on California roads and ruin lives. The National Safety Council predicts holiday fatalities each year, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve/Day consistently seeing high fatality numbers. The last confirmed numbers are from 2022, and in that year, there were 512 Thanksgiving Day fatalities, 365 Christmas Day deaths, and 401 New Year’s Day fatalities. Car accident lawyers see their fair share of victims impacted by drunk drivers.
With DUI arrests spiking around these same holidays every year, there’s a strong correlation between impaired driving and the holidays. There are several reasons for this. First, people travel more frequently to spend the holidays with loved ones. They’re more likely to indulge and celebrate the holidays with alcohol, and when you combine that with travel fatigue and driving on roads you’re unfamiliar with, accident rates spike. There’s also considerable social pressure to drink, which pushes those who would otherwise stay sober into having a few before hitting the road.
How California Strives to Keep Road Users Safe
The uptick in impaired drivers around the holidays does not go unnoticed by California authorities. They use Maximum Enforcement Periods (or MEPs) to catch impaired drivers during high-risk periods. Maximum Enforcement Periods are a statewide effort to ramp up patrols and stop high-risk behaviors, such as drunk driving, speeding, and driving while fatigued. In addition to scheduling MEPs on holidays, the California Highway Patrol also schedules these periods on weekends.
The CHP announces Maximum Enforcement Periods ahead of time, so they shouldn’t come as a surprise to drivers. Their goal is to discourage people from driving unsafely and decrease accident rates.
Compensation for DUI Holiday Accidents
If you’re hit by a drunk driver over the holidays this coming season, a car accident attorney should be one of your first calls. Driving while impaired is a clear case of negligence, and you could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses. In some cases, the court will also award punitive damages. This is typically reserved for cases of egregious negligence, such as an extremely high BAC level or a repeat DUI offender.
Staying Safe During the Holidays
As we approach the holiday season, you don’t have to completely change your life around to avoid drunk drivers on California roads—but you can make a few small changes to minimize your risk and keep your loved ones safe.
- Try to plan your out-of-town travel outside of peak hours: You likely know when the highways are going to be busiest if you travel out of town every year. For example, this year, people will likely head out of town the weekend before Christmas—so try to travel during the week instead.
- If you’re going out for the night, figure out a driver ahead of time: No one’s saying you can’t go out and have fun, but if you do, make sure you have a sober driver. You can also download rideshare apps ahead of time so you can catch a ride home whenever you’re ready.
- Get home early to avoid high-risk hours: If you go out, try to head home before the bars close. That’s when the roads tend to be the most dangerous, and going home just a little bit early can help you avoid impaired drivers.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Car Accident Law Firm
If a holiday car accident leaves you or your loved ones injured, you may be owed compensation. Schedule a time to meet with our personal injury legal team by contacting us online or calling us at 909-894-0812.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.