For millions of people in the Indianapolis area, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, marked by one last get together by the pool, barbecues, and getting together with family and friends. Like any other holiday in the United States, these celebrations tend to involve the consumption of alcohol—often resulting in more drunk drivers on the road than usual.
Law enforcement agencies are well aware of this, as evidenced by the fact that they invariably step up patrols and checkpoints around Labor Day. Unfortunately, people continue to drink in drive in spite of these efforts, often with disastrous results.
Pedestrians and Drivers Alike Should Stay Vigilant
If you are out and about over Labor Day weekend, you should be sure to be on high alert for drunk drivers. This is true whether you are behind the wheel or on foot. Drunk drivers have impaired faculties that can make them extremely dangerous to anyone around them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have a BAC of 0.08 (which qualifies as “drunk” under Indiana Law) have impaired balance, vision, reaction time, judgment, self-control, and memory—all of which are necessary to drive a vehicle safely. As a result, drunk drivers are more likely to do things like run stop signs, drive on the wrong side of the road, swerve into other lanes or onto sidewalks, speed, or do other things that could easily result in a serious-injury causing car accident.
Some of the specific things you can do to protect yourself from drunk drivers include the following:
- Be aware of your surroundings. Be ready to get out of the way of oncoming vehicles.
- Avoid distractions. Put down your phone, take out your headphones, and stay alert.
- If you see a driver who is driving erratically (e.g., swerving, making wide turns, driving on the wrong side of the road, or drifting), pull over and let the vehicle pass you.
- Call 911 and report the vehicle’s description and location
The Aftermath of a Drunk Driving Accident: Protecting Your Rights
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of a drunk driver injuring you. In the event that you are in an accident, there are certain steps you should take to make sure you’ll be able to recover compensation. These include the following:
- Make sure the police respond to the accident. It can make it much easier to recover compensation if there is hard evidence supporting your assertion that the other driver was drunk.
- See a physician and request a thorough medical evaluation. Be completely forthcoming about how you feel and do not minimize your injuries.
- Take notes about the way your injuries are affecting you.
- Call an attorney as soon as you can.
Call The Law Office of Hurst Limontes LLC Today to Set Up a Free Case Evaluation with an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer
Drunk drivers pose a risk to everyone on the road, and people who are hurt by them are generally entitled to compensation for their losses. If a drunk driver injures you this Labor Day weekend, or if you were already hurt by one, retain legal counsel as soon as you can. We have been helping injured victims get the compensation they deserve since 1981 and are determined to get you the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call our office today at (317) 636-0808 or send us an email through our online contact form.