Many individuals decide to hit the road to visit family and friends for the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, many individuals also decide against better judgment and get behind the wheel after overindulging in alcohol. This is why an influx in drunk driving accidents is commonly recorded during this holiday weekend. And if you are part of this statistic, you must take the proper actions to rectify your situation. Read on to discover the statistics on drunk driving during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and how one of the seasoned Bergen County dram shop liability attorneys at McNerney & McAuliffe can help assert your rights.
What are the statistics on drunk driving during the Fourth of July Weekend?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been approximately 1,460 drivers killed in auto accidents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend from 2017 to 2021. Out of this, approximately 38 percent of the drivers killed were drunk at the time of their accident. And this is not to mention the countless victims that have incurred injuries and damages due to drunk driving accidents. This is because the NHTSA reports that even a blood-alcohol content level of 0.02 may affect an individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
What happens if I am involved in a drunk driving accident?
If you are made a victim of a drunk driving accident, it is not an unrealistic assumption that you may be suffering from serious, if not life-altering, injuries and damages. And if this is true, then you must hold the drunk driver accountable via a personal injury claim. It is easy for your claim to be overshadowed by the criminal proceedings that the drunk driver must undergo first. But rest assured, a proficient Bergen County attorney will ensure that your claim is handled within the state of New Jersey’s statute of limitations (i.e., two years). What’s more, an attorney may be able to get you restitution payments from their criminal trial.
And with the state of New Jersey’s dram shop laws, you may be able to hold a bar or restaurant accountable, as well. This is because this law states that an establishment is partially to blame for a drunk driving accident if any of the following circumstances apply:
- The establishment served a patron alcohol when they were clearly intoxicated.
- The establishment served a patron alcohol when they were under the legal drinking age of 21.
- The establishment served a patron alcohol without a liquor license.
In the end, you must remember that laws like these are in place to help you achieve justice. So please do yourself a favor and retain the services of one of the competent Bergen County personal injury attorneys from McNerney & McAuliffe today.
