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DUI crash deaths peak on July Fourth

On Behalf of | Jul 1, 2019 | Car Accidents/MVA |

Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense that can lead to first-time offenders being fined and going to jail for upwards of a year. Of course, DUI crashes also result in many fatalities. Kentucky residents should know that the most DUI-related fatalities occur on the Fourth of July. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,195 such fatalities occurred on this holiday between 2010 and 2017.

DUI-related fatalities go up 57% during the Fourth of July weekend compared to any equivalent summer day. For example, 184 people died during the Independence Day weekend in 2017. Taking a comparable period of four to five summer days, it was found that an average of 117 people died.

The DUI fatality rate fluctuates depending on what day the Fourth of July falls on. On Wednesdays, the rate reaches its highest — 52 fatalities per day on average, based on NHTSA data from 2012 to 2017. The rate reaches its lowest, 36.3, on Saturdays. The weekday average is 43.4 fatalities per day.

As a side note, Memorial Day was the second deadliest major U.S. holiday with 1,105 DUI-related deaths between 2010 and 2017. The other most dangerous days for DUI crashes are Labor Day, New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

While drivers are encouraged to avoid long road trips during the holidays, this cannot always be avoided. Someone who gets in a motor vehicle accident with a drunk driver may be able to recover damages, though, including the expense associated with medical treatments and the income lost during the physical recovery. Before filing their claim, a victim may want to get legal advice and guidance. A lawyer could sidestep the tactics of the insurance companies in the effort to secure a reasonable settlement. The victim may litigate as a last resort.

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