Thanksgiving brings millions of American families and friends together to spend time relaxing and catching up. Experts say Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday period of the year with almost 90 percent of the people traveling by motor vehicle. 

It is no wonder that vehicle crashes increase significantly over the Thanksgiving holiday with over 40 million motorists on the road. The NSC (National Safety Council) estimates that 418 people will lose their lives this year in Thanksgiving holiday crashes. 

The most dangerous drunk driving day is Thanksgiving Eve which college students occasionally call “Black Wednesday” because it is the busiest bar night of the year.

What Is Considered Drunk Driving? 

After consuming multiple alcoholic beverages in a short time period, a driver’s ability to drive any motor vehicle is impaired. It is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC (blood alcohol content) that exceeds the Florida legal limit of .08 (8 percent).  

“The danger created by drunk drivers is immense. These impaired drivers are not only taking the risk of hurting or killing themselves or others, there are trauma and financial costs which can be significant. Impaired drivers may face jail time, a loss of driver’s license, and many more unanticipated expenses ranging from fines, court costs, towing, repairs and lost work time,” said Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

With a Zero Tolerance law for drivers under 21, drivers may be stopped by law enforcement, and should they have a BAC of .02 or higher their Florida drivers’ licenses will be suspended for 6 months. 

Also, Florida law (section 316.193 of the Florida Statutes) requires that interlock devices be installed on vehicles of drivers who are convicted of a DUI.

Claims following a DUI accident can be brought against multiple parties. These parties include not only the drunk driver insurance company, but also the bar, restaurant or club which over-served the DUI driver. Should the DUI driver be at a private party, the host or hostess may have liability. An experienced attorney in handling these types of claims may be able to  seek compensation for the DUI victim for all the damages to which he/she may be entitled. 

How can DUIs be prevented? 

Drunk Driving Prevention recommends the following: 

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you are impaired, do not get behind the wheel.  Call a taxi, use public transportation or call a sober friend or family member so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact any local law enforcement agency or call 1-800-GRABDUI, because you may just save someone’s life.
• Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.  Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely. 

“Should you or a family member be injured by a drunk driver, after seeking medical attention, please call our firm. We have the experienced team ready to assist you,” said Attorney Spivey. 

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.