Between Thanksgiving, the winter holidays and New Year’s Eve, this time of year is a popular time for celebrations in the Santa Ana area. While our celebrations may look a little different this year, one thing that may not change for many is the fact that they will toast to their good health and fortune with a drink or two.
Unfortunately, some people will take drinking too far, and will get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated, causing a drunk driving accident that injures or kills another person. And, according to a ValuePenguin study, the holidays are a major time for drunk driving fatalities in the U.S.
How big is the drunk driving problem during the holidays?
According to the study, from 2010 to 2018, of all fatal car accidents during the holidays, just over 6,000 were caused by drunk drivers. Of these crashes, 21% took place during Thanksgiving and 15% took place during Christmas. Other holidays studied included Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. The study found that 27% of fatal drunk driving crashes during the holidays took place on state highways.
California sees a significant number of fatal drunk driving accidents
According to the study, California and Texas were the states with the greatest numbers of fatal drunk driving accidents over the holidays. From 2010 to 2018, 9% of holiday drunk driving fatalities took place in California. Only Texas had a higher percentage of drunk driving fatalities during that same time period at 13%.
Seek help if you lose a loved one in a drunk driving accident
Ultimately, drunk driving fatalities are so tragic because they could have been prevented. Drunk driving violates a motorist’s duty of care. When this violation causes another person to suffer damages or lose their life, it may be time to determine whether you can pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim to recover compensation for the harms suffered. Personal injury attorneys in Santa Ana may be a useful resource for those who want more information on this topic.