Government crash statistics show that July is the most dangerous month of the year for motorists in Ohio and around the country to take road trips, and accidents are especially common on Independence Day. Some of these accidents can be put down to traffic congestion as the number of cars on the nation’s roads increases significantly during the summer months, but a disproportionate amount of them are caused by drivers who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol at bars, restaurants or parties.
Avoiding the risks
Police departments across the country usually launch drunk driving crackdowns over the July 4th holiday period, but these efforts are not enough to prevent hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries in accidents involving intoxicated drivers. Ohio residents who wish to celebrate that nation’s birthday without crashing or getting arrested for OVI should use public transportation, call a ride-sharing service, or appoint a designated driver.
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
During the 2020 July 4th drunk driving crackdown, the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested 425 motorists for operating their vehicles with blood alcohol concentrations higher than .08, and local police departments in the Buckeye State arrested dozens more. These drunk driving initiatives are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The OSHP also reported that five fatal motor vehicle accidents were caused by intoxicated drivers during the holiday period.
Suing drunk drivers
Proving negligence in a car accident lawsuit may be less challenging when the defendant was arrested at the scene for violating drunk driving laws. If you are injured in an accident involving an intoxicated driver, an experienced personal injury attorney could check court records to see if the impaired motorist pleaded guilty. This information could then be used to encourage the impaired driver’s insurance company to settle the case at the negotiating table.