It’s unfortunate that Thanksgiving week is considered one of the most dangerous, even deadliest, holidays. The night before Thanksgiving is popularly known as “Blackout Wednesday” or “drinksgiving.” A lot of locals, tourists, and teens home from college begin celebrating the holiday on Wednesday night. All too often, this results in many people drinking and partying and then making bad, life-changing decisions, such as driving after getting drunk.
In addition, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is likewise the busiest shopping day every single year, which means more people are on the road scrambling to secure the best buys.
Thanksgiving, Alcohol, and Driving is a Deadly Mix
Thanksgiving week is usually about relaxing and having fun with family and friends. But it can also be one of the most devastating times for many people who have been injured in car accidents because of congested roads, distracted tourists who are driving on unfamiliar roads, and drunk driving. This holiday week is a particularly bad time for drunk driving crashes.
Unfortunately, some people not just overindulge in eating but also alcohol. Getting behind the wheel, even when a person is lightly buzzed, can still cause sleepiness, vision issues, and reduced reaction time, which can quickly lead to a Thanksgiving drunk driving accident.
More Tourists Naturally Increases Thanksgiving Crashes
Drivers will have to deal with congested roads, especially heading into Thanksgiving week, since people will come back from home earlier than usual and mix with drunk or distracted tourists who are on their way to their destinations. Last year, more than 50 million people traveled for Thanksgiving week. With less stringent covid safety guidelines and more and more places opening up for tourists, traveling for the holidays is once again a priority for a lot of people who love seeing friends and families during Thanksgiving.
Fatigue and stress can negatively affect a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. These factors can raise the risk of Thanksgiving crashes since fatigued and distracted drivers sometimes don’t even realize their negligent actions. Scrambling to get to a party on time or driving in unfamiliar streets can be extremely stressful. While driving, this pent-up stress can lead to distracted driving, speeding, road rage, and devastating consequences for other road users.
Consult With a Top California Car Accident Attorney Today
Drunk driving is among the leading causes of preventable car crashes that usually cause catastrophic injuries, or worse, the death of a loved one during a holiday that’s supposed to be all about gratitude and enjoying life. Whether the drunk driving crash occurred during Thanksgiving week or any other day, you can count on Bamieh& De Smeth for legal guidance.
Our California car accident attorneys can help you better understand your case and figure out the best way to secure financial compensation for all your losses. Please call our office at 805-643-5555 or fill out our online form for your free case review with our California car accident attorney. Our lawyers can likewise help you with a wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one was killed in a drunk driving crash.
