Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day and for many that means time for celebration. In America, St. Patrick’s Day has become a national holiday where we all enjoy the Irish culture. This means a few things become standard fare: wearing green, eating corned beef and cabbage, and drinking plenty of green beer and alcohol.

In many respects, St. Patrick’s Day has become a drinking holiday. Like many other holidays, St. Paddy’s unfortunately sees a sharp increase in the number of alcohol-related crimes, the most glaring and concerning of which is drunk driving.

As statistics make clear, St. Patrick’s Day has consistently seen a rise in alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and deaths. Take a look at some of these stats:

• From 2009 - 2013, 276 people died in drunk driving accidents on St. Patrick’s Day.
• From 2008 - 2012, 75% of all drunk driving deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involved a driver who was over two times the legal limit.
• In 2012, over 75% of people who died in fatal auto accidents on St. Patrick’s Day, died in accidents where the driver was intoxicated.
• Local and state police consistently make hundreds of DWI arrests during St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

These stats should send a sobering reminder to anyone who is planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to not drive drunk. At The Daspit Law Firm, our legal team has worked with many clients who were injured in drunk driving accidents, and we know the pain and devastation DWI accidents can cause.

We want to remind all local residents to plan for a ride or find a sober driver if your St. Patrick’s Day plans involve alcohol. Remember, drunk and impaired drivers who cause accidents that injure others can be held responsible for victims damages.

If you have questions about your legal rights following an auto accident, including those involving impaired drivers, let our personal injury attorneys at The Daspit Law Firm review your situation and provide the answers you need. To learn more, contact our firm today.