Drunk Driving Victim

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration and parties in northern California and across the nation, with many choosing to celebrate the holiday with alcohol. While many have harmless fun during this day and enjoy the time spent with family and friends, many others make the reckless decision to drive drunk, putting not only themselves and whoever is in their car in harm’s way, but endangering the lives of anyone else around them.

To prevent drunk driving accidents this holiday weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has offered advice to party hosts and guests to keep them from driving drunk and preventing other’s from doing so as well. Most importantly, prevent yourself from driving drunk by planning a safe way home before you go to the party and, if intoxicated, use a form of public transportation, a sober designated driver, or a sober ride program to get home safely.

Beyond keeping yourself from driving drunk, keep others from doing so by taking the keys away from those who try to drive after drinking, and do not hesitate to call the police when you see a possible drunk driver on the road. Make sure to stay away from other drivers that you may believe to be drunk, as these drivers can quickly cause a northern California auto accident that will endanger your life and anyone else in your vehicle. Many of these crashes can end in deaths, as well. According to the NHTSA, there were 103 fatal crashes on 2009’s St. Patrick’s Day, with 37 percent involving drivers with a blood alcohol content of at least .08 percent.

Whether it is on St. Patrick’s Day or any other day of the year, drunk drivers can cause serious accidents that injure even the most careful drivers and pedestrians. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, Van Der Walde & Associates’ San Jose drunk driving injury lawyers can help you. For a consultation on your case by our skilled law team, call us today at (877) 862-6288.

While holidays such as New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July are well known for an increase in drunk driving incidents, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun highlighting another time of increased drinking and driving: the Super Bowl. Due to the amount of parties and bar visits both during the National Football League’s (NFL) playoffs and the championship game itself, there is a much greater likelihood that partygoers will choose to overindulge and drive.

As such, the NHTSA’s Super Bowl Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign will run from January 2 through February 6 and is bringing awareness to the fact that many will choose to drink and drive, and stresses that “Super Bowl fans don’t let fans drive drunk.” According to the NHTSA, there were 10,228 people killed in fatal auto accidents that involved at least one legally drunk driver during 2010. To prevent drunk driving accidents during the football playoff season, the NHTSA recommends:

• Choosing a responsible designated driver before beginning a party and rewarding him or her with payment for gas, a good seat to see the game, and first pass at the food;
• Serving plenty of food to lessen the effects of alcohol;
• Offering a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, as well;
• Regulating alcohol serving and determine if drinks will be cut off at a certain point; and
• Preparing for calling cab companies or having guests stay the night if needed.

Even when football fans and drivers in general choose to not drive drunk, they are still at risk of being injured by those who choose to do so. Van Der Walde & Associate’s Northern California DUI injury lawyers are committed to finding justice and compensation for those injured by drunk drivers. If you have been injured in such an accident, contact us today at (877) 862-6288.

Police in Northern California and across the country have been focused on detecting and arresting drunk drivers during the holiday season this year, and so far police have arrested 243 throughout Santa Clara County, according to The Gilroy Dispatch. The drunk driving crackdown has been in effect throughout the second half of December and will continue through New Year’s Day.

Records for holiday DUI arrests have shown that, so far, police have arrested dozens less than they did last year, even though patrols have increased when compared to 2010. While DUI patrols have been increased since December 16, the greatest increases are on the days surrounding Christmas and New Years. Police fear that since both holidays occur on weekends this year, DUI incidents may see a dramatic increase compared to the rest of the month.

Holiday drunk driving crackdowns have become commonplace over the last several years and are not limited to end of the year celebrations. This year alone, Santa Clara Police arrested 141 during Fourth of July weekend, 133 in the days surrounding Memorial Day, and 439 during the half-month end of summer DUI campaign.

Although DUI checkpoints and patrols help to prevent many drunk driving-related accidents from occurring every year, they cannot stop them all. Those who choose to drink and drive put others at risk because of their negligent and reckless behavior, with many auto accidents caused by drunk driving resulting in severe injuries and even death.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the actions a drunk driver, the Santa Cruz drunk driving victim attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can help you seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free consultation on your case by calling (877) 862-6288.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports that officers arrested more drivers for DUI this Labor Day weekend than at the same time last year. In the Bay Area, CHP officers arrested 258 people on suspicion of driving under the influence, compared to 252 drivers in 2010. Law enforcement officials from Santa Clara County also reported an increase in arrests. Officers arrested 385 drivers on suspicion of DUI during Labor Day weekend in 2010, compared with 439 in 2011. San Mateo County reported 211 arrests for DUI, down from 224 during Labor Day weekend of the previous year.

The number of Labor Day weekend fatalities also increased in some areas, however. CHP reports a total of 22 people killed in its jurisdictions, up from 16 deaths in 2010. Nineteen of the 22 people killed were not wearing their seatbelts. Law enforcement officers advise drivers to always use a designated driver when drinking, obey all traffic laws and use safety belts and restraint systems properly.

The San Jose drunk driving victim attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates have extensive experience representing those whose lives have been changed by people who chose to drink and drive. Drunk driving accidents lead to fatalities, serious injuries and extensive property damage, forcing victims and their families to pay costly medical bills and funeral expenses. If you suffered serious injuries as the result of an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, contact us at (877) 862-6288 for a free consultation.