November 8, 2016 | Car Accidents
For many of us, the long Thanksgiving weekend means the start of the year-end holiday season and relaxing with family and friends. Usually, this means seeing old friends, eating, and drinking, sometimes until the early hours of the morning. In fact, the night before Thanksgiving is often referred to as “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving” and the Wall Street Journal reports1 that it is the top drunk driving night of the year in many areas.
The celebration does not end on Wednesday night, either. Many students and workers have both Thursday and Friday off, meaning that people are often out in full force every night between Wednesday and Sunday. In addition, while Thursday is traditionally the day that people spend with family, these gatherings often involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages and many people choose to go out and socialize with old friends after dinner has ended.
More Drunk Drivers Make the Roadways More Dangerous
The fact that there are more people out celebrating can make the roads an extremely dangerous place. For this reason, if you are out and about at any point during Thanksgiving weekend, you should be as careful as possible and keep your wits about you. If you notice another vehicle driving erratically, do whatever you can to put as much space between you and the other vehicle. In addition, if you have any reason to believe that the driver of the other vehicle is intoxicated, contact your local law enforcement agency.
What to Do if you Are Involved in an Accident
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely eliminate your risk of being involved in an accident with a drunk driver, and it is almost a certainty that people will get hurt in drunk driving accidents this Thanksgiving weekend. If you are involved in a wreck, there are certain things that you can do to protect your right to recover compensation for your injuries. These include the following:
-Wait for the police to arrive. Law enforcement officers are trained to spot signs of intoxication and will be able to determine whether the other driver is drunk. If he or she is, it may make it substantially easier for you to recover compensation
-Seek medical attention. Accident victims should always seek medical attention after they are involved in a crash. Doing so will help establish both causation and damages,2 which are critical to any legal claim you may have.
-Speak to an attorney. After an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should speak to an experienced lawyer. The representation of an attorney will ensure that you receive the full value of your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Contact an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., we have successfully helped many drunk driving accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries and related losses. To make sure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to have an experienced drunk driving accident attorney handling your case. Attorney Merry Fountain can help you today by meeting in her office or by meeting in your home. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.