Georgia Injury Law Blog
Statistics from last year show that Labor Day was the second deadliest holiday in the United States in 2022, and this year, with the incidence of drunk driving on the rise, the risk of alcohol – related car accidents has never been higher.
Last year, one study by a car insurance app found that the Labor Day Holiday weekend ranked second only to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the number of fatal car accidents recorded. The study analyzed data between 2011 and 2020, and found that the Labor Day holiday was the second most dangerous holiday in the country. Over the study period, the data showed that more than 4000 people were killed in car accidents over Labor Day, many of them caused by drunk drivers. Approximately, 25% of deaths involved teens and young people in their mid 20s. About 70% of this category of drivers were male. The second most at- risk category of drivers during the Labor Day holiday were drivers between the age of 26 and 35.
Drunk driving is likely fueling this increase in car accident deaths. Recent data shows that driving under the influence of alcohol is actually on the increase across the country. Between 2020 and 2021, there was an increase of approximately 14% in fatal alcohol – related car accidents. Overall, there was an increase of approximately 10% in car accident deaths during the same period of time. Clearly, the role of alcohol in causing car accidents is increasing, and this is a cause of concern.
It’s not just that there are more motorists driving under the influence than ever before, but also that many motorists are actually driving in an extremely intoxicated condition. In 2020, for instance, approximately two-thirds of all motorists who were involved in fatal car accidents were driving with a blood alcohol level of .15% or higher.
The federal administration recently kickstarted its annual Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over campaign to crack down on intoxicated motorists over the Labor Day holiday and get them off the road before they harm anyone. The campaign will spend millions of dollars on media, television and print campaigns and billboards calling on motorists to avoid driving if they have had too much to drink.
With Labor Day coming up, motorists need to be extra cautious. Data seems to indicate that the Labor Day holiday has actually seen an increase in auto accidents over the past 10 years even during those years when there were declines in traffic.
The Atlanta auto accident attorneys at Katz Personal Injury lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.