College Football and New Year’s Eve Celebrations Increase Risk of Accidents

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 31, 2015

For many people, New Year’s Eve plans involve parties, celebrations, football or some combination of the three. For football fans, this time of year brings joy in the form of several bowl games, many of which are played in the state of Florida. The Orange Bowl in Miami on New Year’s Eve and the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on New Year’s Day will bring thousands of travelers from out of state, in addition to all of the Floridians that will be attending the games or headed to their favorite local spot to watch the game on TV. Many of these revelers will enjoy at least a drink or two during the festivities.

All of these extra people mean extra traffic on the roads and an increase in the risk for traffic-related accidents. Add in alcohol as a risk factor and you have a recipe for disaster. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the New Year’s Eve holiday is one of the busiest and most deadly for Florida motorists. Last year in 2014, there were 20 alcohol-related death in the period from December 16th to January 1st. There were also a total of 228 alcohol-related collisions during the same period. 57 of those 228 collisions occurred on New Year’s Eve.

To keep yourself and those you love safe, the Florida Highway Patrol suggests a number of alternatives for party-goers to getting behind the wheel after enjoying a few. AAA is offering a Tow to Go service, which is a free ride home for both passengers and their vehicles, if they feel they may have had too much to drink. Or, Uber and Lyft are great options for those that want to plan ahead and leave the vehicle at home. Or, if the place that you choose is close by, walking to your destination is always a safer bet.

At the law offices of James O. Cunningham, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. However, we know that this will not be the case for some families. In the event that something happens to you or your loved ones, we are here to help. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident that was not your fault, please contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.