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Beware of Drunk Drivers During The Holidays

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One man, sitting at the bar counter alone, he has drinking problems.

A Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyer Discusses the Dangers

Most people are responsible when it comes to driving sober. Some rely on a designated driver to get them home safely. Others use a rideshare service, taxi, or friend to get them safely to their next destination.

For those who choose to put themselves and others at risk by drinking and driving, the end result is often a devastating crash that causes severe injury or death. Around the holidays when fatal, alcohol-involved car accidents typically increase, your chances of getting hit by a drunk driver are even higher.

In Pittsburgh, some streets are riskier than others. The following roadways saw the most car accidents in 2020:

  • Penn Lincoln Parkway
  • Ohio River Boulevard
  • Saw Mill Run Boulevard
  • William Flinn Highway
  • Lincoln Highway

Knowing a gauntlet of holiday drunk drivers is coming our way, safety advocates have put together a list of tips on how to deal with impaired or otherwise erratic drivers.

Safe Driving Tips

In Pennsylvania, there have been more than 420 fatal car accidents from 2010 through 2019, the years analyzed in a recent ValuePenguin report. About 265 of these deadly crashes occurred around Christmas.

Still, there are best practices that may help bring down your risk of being a DUI victim. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your crash risk and, if you are hit, improve your chance of survival:

  • Buckle up. Wearing a seatbelt cuts in half the chance of a bad accident turning fatal.
  • Give other vehicles their space. Maintain a generous following distance with the car ahead of you and try to avoid driving side-by-side with another vehicle on multi-lane roads. The more distance you put between yourself and other vehicles, the more time you will have to react If an impaired driver loses control or performs a dangerous maneuver. Common signs that the driver in front of you could be impaired are:
    • Swerving
    • Slowing and speeding up repeatedly
    • Odd lane changes
    • Sudden braking
    • Confused signaling (odd blinker usage, for example)
  • Carefully enter intersections. Crossroads are a hotbed for bad car accidents even under the best circumstances. This is because the design naturally offers multiple opportunities for collisions. Drunk and high drivers are notorious for blowing off traffic lights and signage. They either fail to recognize or simply don’t care that you have the right of way. So, before you enter an intersection, look both ways for oncoming traffic.
  • Avoid late-night driving. Most drunk driving accidents happen at night and on the weekends. If possible, avoid driving at these times around the holidays when the risk of getting in a crash is higher.
  • Be a designated driver. By giving impaired people sober rides, you are helping to prevent the potential for a serious drunk driving accident. Your example will likely encourage responsibility in others.

Filing an Injury Claim Against a Drunk Driver

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you deserve justice and compensation for your losses. Romanow Law Group has the knowledge, experience, and tenacity to handle every aspect of your claim and will aggressively advocate for your best interests throughout the entire process.

To learn more about how an experienced Pittsburgh car accident attorney can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.

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