The holiday season is meant to be a happy time that is full of family togetherness, gift-giving, and preparing for the year to come. Unfortunately, car accidents involving drunk driving often increase during this time. Hundreds of people are killed in these types of collisions every holiday season, with around 300 fatalities occurring during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While it is unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the rates of traffic fatalities in the 2020 holiday season, drunk driving continues to be a concern. Even though many bars and restaurants are currently closed, reducing the chances that a person will drink and drive after a night out on the town, many people will still be drinking alcohol while attending holiday parties or getting together with their families. In addition, the isolation that many people are experiencing during the pandemic may cause them to increase their use of alcohol or drugs, leading to risky behaviors that could lead to dangerous car accidents.
Legal Options Following a Drunk Driving Crash
Car accident victims may have multiple options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver or another party who was at fault for a collision. A person may be covered by the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, or in a case involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist, they may receive coverage through their own insurance policy. A personal injury lawsuit may also allow a person to recover damages from a driver or other parties, such as the manufacturer of defective auto parts or a government organization that did not correct a dangerous road or intersection.
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