Pittsburgh Drivers Reminded To Drive Sober This Holiday Season
Drunk driving accidents often spike during the holiday season, leaving a devastating impact on victims and their families. For those injured in a drunk driving crash, the consequences can include severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and prolonged recovery times. That’s why officials in Pennsylvania recently launched “Operation Safe Holiday,” an educational campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving during this high-risk time.
While education plays a crucial role, the campaign also emphasizes enforcement. If public awareness doesn’t deter impaired drivers, the Pennsylvania State Police will be out in full force, enforcing the state’s drunk driving laws and charging offenders with driving under the influence (DUI). For car accident victims, these efforts highlight the importance of holding drunk drivers accountable—not just criminally but civilly as well.
A Pennsylvania drunk driving accident lawyer can help victims take legal action against the at-fault driver, seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Beyond financial relief, filing a claim can also send a strong message about the consequences of impaired driving, making the roads safer for everyone.
What is being done to stop drunk driving during the holidays?
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, and other state and local organizations recently launched “Operation Safe Holiday” to prevent drunk driving accidents statewide between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
As briefly explained above, officials have been educating the public in Pennsylvania about the dangers of drinking and driving. State Police troopers have also been aggressively enforcing the state’s DUI laws.
Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1 this year, Pennsylvania State Police arrested 552 people throughout the state for DUI, according to WTAJ News. Even so, drunk drivers still caused 64 car accidents during that same period, resulting in one fatality.
Are there more accidents on holidays?
Yes. The numbers are clear – a large number of drunk driving accidents occur each year during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. And worst of all, the problem has continued to get worse.
For instance, in 2022, drunk drivers caused 1,062 deaths nationwide during the month of December, according to the most recent holiday drunk driving accident data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That number is the highest drunk driving death toll in December since 2007.
What time of year do most drunk driving accidents occur?
Unfortunately, the holidays aren’t the only time of the year when people make the reckless decision to drink and drive. In fact, drunk driving accidents have skyrocketed in recent years nationwide. For example, between 2019 and 2022, drunk driving fatalities increased by 33 percent, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). And in 2022, there were 13,524 drunk driving fatalities nationwide.
“We are losing children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and people we love to tragic and avoidable crashes,” MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart said.
How many people are killed in DUI crashes each year in Pennsylvania?
Despite education and enforcement efforts, drunk driving remains a serious problem in Pennsylvania. For the past decade, at least 300 people have died due to accidents in Pennsylvania caused by drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, according to the most recent NHTSA accident data.
Between 2013 and 2022, those numbers have been significantly higher, including in 2015, when drunk drivers in Pennsylvania killed 363 people. More recently, drunk driving in Pennsylvania resulted in 338 deaths in 2021 and 2022.
Hold drunk drivers and negligent parties accountable
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver in Pennsylvania, you deserve justice and full compensation for your losses. While holding the impaired driver accountable is critical, it’s also important to consider all parties that may share responsibility for the crash. Pennsylvania’s dram shop law allows victims to pursue claims against bars, restaurants, liquor stores, or other establishments that provide alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals who later cause accidents. These claims can provide an additional source of compensation and reinforce the responsibility of businesses to prioritize public safety.
At Romanow Law Group, we understand how complex drunk driving cases can be. From investigating the crash and gathering evidence to navigating dram shop liability and countering insurance company tactics, we have the knowledge, experience, and resources to pursue justice on your behalf. Our case results speak for themselves, including $1,099,500 for a car accident injury victim.
Let our Pittsburgh drunk driving accident lawyers fight for your rights while you focus on recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you take the first step toward rebuilding your life. We’re here to make a difference—one case at a time.
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