Summer is usually the most active time of year for Maryland residents. Many of us attend outdoor gatherings, such as concerts, weddings or picnics, and these events usually involve alcohol.
With more people out and about at social events, the number of drunk drivers on the road increases. In fact, 28% of drunk driving-related deaths occur in the summer, making it the most dangerous season for drunk driving accidents.
Ways to stay safe
There are many things you can do to reduce your chances of being involved in a drunk driving accident. Most importantly, don’t drive intoxicated yourself. Always use a designated driver if you are going to be drinking.
If you are driving, get rid of all distractions and keep your seat belt on. Have a backup plan if you know everyone you will be with will be drinking and you may not have a designated driver.
Although you may take all proper precautions, you cannot control other drivers on the road. This means that you could unfortunately find yourself the victim of a drunk driving accident.
Drunk driving is negligent driving
In addition to being a criminal act, drunk driving is a form of negligence. Every driver on Maryland’s roads has a duty to drive safely, and this duty is breached when someone drives while intoxicated.
If you have been in a car accident involving a drunk driver, you could recover compensation for your damages by showing that the drunk driver was negligent.
Proving negligence requires showing not only that a driver was intoxicated, but that their intoxication caused your accident and damages.
As the victim of a drunk driver, you could have damages including permanent or life-threatening injuries that result in high medical bills, lost wages and untold pain and suffering. Personal injury attorneys have experience with proving negligence and can be a great resource.
