The dangers of Blackout Wednesday, aka Drinksgiving, describe the surge of impaired drivers the night before Thanksgiving.
If an impaired motorist has injured you, let a Utah drunk driving accident lawyer explain your rights and fight for your best interests.
What Constitutes Blackout Wednesday
Several years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) named the day before Thanksgiving Blackout Wednesday because of the increase in drunk driving accidents that occurred on that night year after year. The numbers showed that college-age students accounted for many of the reported cases of drinking and driving.
College students, along with other young adults, often use this time off from school or work to unwind and be social. For many, this involves public gatherings and drinking excessively. However, when it comes time to leave, these individuals may not always opt for alternative ways to get home, such as rideshares or friends acting as designated drivers.
Additionally, the holidays can be hard on many individuals, such as those without family, a history of alcoholism, or those with mental health challenges.
These individuals may be more likely to drink heavily in anticipation of the holiday and in response to various triggers. They may then get behind the wheel of a car in their impaired state and cause an accident.
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Statistical Data Highlights the Dangers of Drinksgiving
When looking at the statistics for Thanksgiving Eve, it highlights the seriousness of this night. During the four most recent years studied, 149 drivers were involved in accidents that resulted in fatalities.
The data indicates that these accidents overwhelmingly involved male drivers (107) over female drivers (34). Individuals aged 21-24 were most commonly involved in these accidents, followed by 25-34 year olds.
Even though it’s one night out of the year, Blackout Wednesday, AKA Drinksgiving, highlights a much larger issue. A third of all vehicle fatalities in the U.S. are due to drunk driving. An individual’s level of intoxication is determined by their blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and the legal limit in Utah is 0.5%, below the national average limit of 0.8%. Accidents on Drinksgiving often exceed the legal drinking limit.
Because of this, drunk drivers are more likely to be incapable of reacting, making judgments, maintaining speed, staying in their lane, and may have compromised vision. As a result, a drunk driver is more likely to endanger themselves and others and cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
Specific Dangers Associated With Thanksgiving Eve
When drunk drivers get behind the wheel, their ability to function is compromised, and they are likely to avoid taking proper safety measures or follow the rules of the road. For example, drunk drivers may be less likely to buckle their seatbelts, which increases the risk of injury in an accident.
Additionally, because of their impaired visual, cognitive, and motor skills, drunk drivers may make serious errors and fail to react to hazards. This can include drifting into oncoming lanes of traffic, making wrong turns, swerving, or driving with exaggerated movements, or colliding with motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. They may also fail to obey traffic signs and signals in their impaired state.
These actions can result in head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, t-bone collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, and rollovers, to name a few.
The resulting damage can leave parties with injuries ranging from whiplash to catastrophic conditions. These accidents may also result in immediate death from the impact of the collisions or a delayed fatality due to injuries.
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Drivers Should Use Extra Caution When Driving on Blackout Wednesday
Because drivers are more likely to be drunk on Thanksgiving Eve, many motorists must consider the dangers of Drinksgiving before going out on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 833 fatalities during Thanksgiving over a four-year span that were caused by drunk driving.
As such, motorists should use extra caution during their Thanksgiving travel plans. If an accident does occur, it’s important to know what to do after a car accident caused by an impaired driver.
Safety is the top priority after an accident, and every second matters in these situations. Victims should also consult a lawyer to guide them through the legal process so they can hold the drunk driver accountable.
Additionally, individuals who host gatherings over Thanksgiving should be mindful when serving alcohol. If they overserve their guests or a minor, who then later causes an accident, they could be held liable for contributing to the driver’s alcohol impairment and accident. Hosts should take steps to limit the intoxication of their guests and prevent them from driving if they have consumed too much.
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Recovering Compensation if a Drunk Driver Has Injured You On Drinksgiving
A drunk driver can cause serious injuries that require extensive medical care. These expenses may be prohibitive for many and threaten their ability to get quality medical care.
Utah’s no-fault insurance rules allow you to secure financial assistance to offset your costs. By understanding personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, you can recover medical expenses and lost wages without having to show fault.
Your PIP coverage may not always be enough to cover the extent of your losses, especially if you suffered severe injuries because of a drunk driver. If this is the case, you can talk with a lawyer about how to file a lawsuit directly against the drunk driver. While you will have to establish fault in this type of case, you could recover additional losses that can cover vehicle repairs and pain and suffering.
In either situation, claimants should be aware that if they contributed to the accident in some way, they could have their compensation reduced in proportion to their level of fault, per Utah Code 78B-5-818. However, a lawyer can help you limit your liability and recover the maximum amount allowed in your situation through negotiation.
Siegfried & Jensen Helps You Resolve a Claim Against a Drunk Driver
Siegfried & Jensen provide compassionate support when you have been injured by a drunk driver on Blackout Wednesday. We fight for the justice you deserve and work diligently to secure a generous settlement to cover your losses.
You do not have to handle the aftermath of this type of accident on your own. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to get started.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
