There are many reasons to increase alertness and caution when traveling on New York roadways on a holiday. There is often a lot more traffic on a holiday, which means there’s a greater risk for collision. On a day like St. Patrick’s Day, which is right around the corner, there are often many drunk drivers on the road.
There’s no excuse of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. There are stringent laws against drunk driving and many resources available to teach people about the dangers of intoxicated driving, as well as information on how to avoid it. Travel safety may be at risk if a driver exhibits any of the behaviors on the following list:
- Swerving over the yellow line
- Driving at night without using headlights
- Randomly applying brakes, causing sudden disruption to flow of traffic
- Making turns that are too wide
- Clipping a curb, a parked vehicle or other object along a curb
- Driving in a lane where traffic is headed in the opposite direction
There may be nothing a person can do to avoid a collision if a nearby drunk driver loses control of steering. It is sometimes possible to distance oneself from a driver who is making erratic maneuvers to avert a crash. However, when traveling on a highway, it might not be safe to change positions or exit the road at a given moment.
Recovering from a drunk driving accident
If another vehicle hits someone traveling at highway speeds, he or she might suffer catastrophic injuries. Even being struck by a vehicle at slower speeds, such as in a parking lot, can cause physical injuries that require hospitalization. New York law allows people to seek restitution through the civil justice system when another person’s negligence or reckless behavior has caused them injury. In addition to physical injuries, emotional trauma and economic distress may be included as damages in such cases.