Millions of Americans are gearing up for the long Thanksgiving weekend. As one of the year’s most festive holidays, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to bond with family and friends.
Many Americans choose to celebrate Thanksgiving with a few drinks. As a result, drunk-driving rates spike, which coincides with an increase in fatal accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 410 motorists were killed over the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2013 – which is four times the number of deaths over the Christmas holiday. More than one-third of these accidents involved a drunk driver.
If a drunk driver injures you or a family member over the Thanksgiving weekend, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. A Cedar Rapids personal-injury attorney will evaluate your case, assess the police report and medical records, interview witnesses and help you claim the maximum compensation from the at-fault driver or insurance company.
Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can also visit USAttorneys.com to learn more about car accident injury lawsuits in Iowa.
11 Ways to Spot a Drunk Driver over the Thanksgiving Weekend
Just because your blood-alcohol concentration is below the legal limit does not mean that it is safe for you to drive. For some people, all it takes is one drink to affect their performance behind the wheel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that alcohol can impair your ability to drive by:
● Limiting your attention span;
● Hindering your ability to judge speed;
● Impairing your decision-making skills;
● Restricting your ability to process visual information; and
● Causing you to overlook obvious dangers on the road.
It’s no secret that the best way to avoid a drunk-driving crash is to stay sober. However, you cannot control the actions of other motorists. As such, it is important that all drivers know the signs of intoxication so they can keep their distance from motorists who appear to be impaired.
You should be concerned if you notice the following symptoms of intoxication:
- Accelerating or braking erratically;
- Tailgating;
- Swerving;
- Coming close to striking a curb, a vehicle or another obstacle in the road;
- Signal without turning or using the wrong turn signal;
- Ignoring traffic signs and lights;
- Straddling two lanes;
- Driving with the headlights turned off at night;
- Driving too fast or slow for the conditions;
- Making illegal turns; or
- Driving on the wrong side of the road.
If you suffer an injury due to a drunk, distracted or negligent driver over the Thanksgiving holiday, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and non-economic damages.
A Cedar Rapids personal-injury attorney will help you avoid mistakes during the claims process such as accepting a low settlement, signing a general release or making recorded statements to the insurance company. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free consultation.