Do Car Crashes Actually Go Up During Football Season?

Whether it is college football or the NFL, football season is exciting for fans. Between attending live games in stadiums, tailgating, and watching the game with your friends at a sports bar or home, there are endless social options.  

But any way you like to watch football, it is important to remember if you plan to drink, you should always have a safe way home that doesn’t involve driving yourself, whether that’s designating a sober driver, taking public transportation, or using a rideshare service or taxi.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found these surprising statistics:

• 1 in 12 spectators are drunk when leaving a major sporting event.
• 1 in 4 tailgaters average at least 5 alcoholic beverages per game.
• Tailgaters are 14 times more likely to leave a game intoxicated.
• People under 35 were 8 times more likely to be over the legal blood alcohol content limit after a game.

The New England Journal of Medicine studied driving fatality statistics on 27 consecutive Super Bowl Sundays. They found that both fatal and nonfatal crashes increase after the football game. They contribute this increase to factors like alcohol consumption, inattention, and fatigue.

Researchers say that automobile accidents increased more than 40% in the 4 hours following the Super Bowl. The highest surge of accidents occured in the losing team’s home state.

Driving Statistics in Louisiana

According to the Louisiana State Legislator, the legal limit for blood alcohol content is .08%. For the average 160-180 lb. drinker, that means approximately 3 drinks per hour puts you over the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle, even less if you are consuming hard alcohol.

The CDC says about 1 in 3 deaths in traffic accidents are the result of drunk driving. In Louisiana, 2.5% of adults admit to drinking too much before driving, higher than the national average of 1.9%.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving accidents every day. That is a death rate of one person every 52 minutes.

The Louisiana Crash Data Report compiles statistics on traffic accidents from all law enforcement agencies in the state. Their latest report from 2019 showed that 72,501 people were injured in car accidents. Of those, 2,846 injury crashes were estimated to be alcohol-related injuries.

Knowing Your Rights

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, especially one caused by a drunk driver, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Under Louisiana state law, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earnings, including future earnings
• Medical expenses and related benefits
• Mental anguish
• Wrongful death

What to Do After an Accident?

There are several steps to take after a car accident to help strengthen your claim when you file a personal injury lawsuit:

• Report the claim to the proper authorities.
• Call 911 and report the incident to the police
• Call your insurance provider and report your claim
• Get personal contact information from any witnesses to the incident.
• Name and phone number
• If the car was involved in the incident, exchange insurance information
• Take a lot of pictures, including:
• Damage to your car
• Other cars involved in the incident
• The surrounding scene
• Witnesses or their identification
• Physical injuries that you may have sustained during the incident
• Consult an experienced Louisiana car accident attorney.

Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

The aftermath of an accident can be a confusing and stressful time. A personal injury attorney can help relieve some of the burden. They can help you receive full compensation from your insurance provider. An attorney can also determine if you are eligible to file a further claim for damages against you. In cases where someone has suffered a serious injury, an attorney can help you file a claim for compensation beyond your personal insurance.

Let Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers Help You

We care about you and are dedicated to getting you the maximum amount of compensation for your claim. If you, or a loved one, has been injured in an accident with a drunk driver that was not your fault, contact Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers today.

For a free consultation, fill out our convenient online form. Our compassionate team of drunk driving accident attorneys is available to answer your questions about filing a personal injury claim to help you get the compensation you deserve.

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