With the upcoming Superbowl taking place in Los Angeles, with the Rams playing against the Bengals, it is important to know about road safety and the uptick in alcohol-related traffic accidents during this time. Although the Super Bowl is not technically a holiday, the event is so ingrained in American culture, and football itself is part of our nation’s Sunday routines at bars, homes, and casinos across the country, that many may come to Las Vegas to bet on the team they think will win. You can be guaranteed that there will be fun and alcoholic beverages to be had at Superbowl watch parties across the country, resulting in a sharp spike in driving under the influence (DUI) accidents.
Below are some DUI-related statistics regarding Superbowl Sunday:
- The Superbowl is one of the biggest drinking days of the entire year, with DUI crashes increasing 22% on game day;
- Except for New Year’s Eve, more DUI-related injuries happen on Super Sunday that at any other time during the year;
- The Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) found Superbowl Sunday to be the most dangerous day to be on the roads in January and February, with a 41% increase in car crashes over the average on any other Sunday in those months;
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 33% of traffic-related fatalities during the Superbowl in 2016 involved a drunk driver;
- According to a smartphone alcohol breath test company, BACtrack, users’ recorded on Super Bowl Sunday an average blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.091, just slightly less than the average of 0.094 BAC typically found on New Year’s Eve. Both averages are above the legal BAC limit in Nevada of 0.08.
- Statistically, residents in the hometowns of teams playing in the Superbowl experience nearly double the average of DUIs when compared to the rest of the country.
Seeking Damages in DUI Accidents
Victims of a Nevada DUI accident can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who was intoxicated as well as the driver’s car insurance carrier for negligence. An accident victim may recover compensatory damages in Nevada, including:
- Medical expenses;
- Loss of past wages;
- Loss of earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering.
Depending on how egregious the drunk driver’s behavior is, a victim may be entitled to a bigger settlement in the form of punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, which is monetary compensation to try to make the crash victim whole again, punitive damages are meant to punish bad actors. Under Nevada law, even if the victim bore some fault for their own injuries, they would still be entitled to monetary compensation if the drunk driver was at least 50% at fault for the crash.
Contact our Nevada Attorneys
If you were injured in a Nevada DUI accident, contact the skilled Nevada personal injury attorneys at H&P Law. We will fight for the monetary compensation you deserve and push for the best result possible for your case based on the facts and the applicable law. Our experienced attorneys have served accident victims in Las Vegas and across the state of Nevada for years. Contact us today.
