At this time of year, there are many end-of-summer parties with alcohol. The roads are also busier with tourists coming to Florida for one final holiday and trucks delivering back-to-school goods to stores. As well, there are many moving trucks on the road as the end of summer is a time when many college students are moving to campus and many families are moving ahead of the school year. Alcohol-fueled parties and extra traffic on the road are not a great combination, and they can mean Florida truck accidents and DUI accidents.
You can help prevent accidents at this time of year if you:
1) Plan your own parties carefully. If you hope to have an end-of-year party, prevent accidents by having a plan to get guests home safely. You can hire a designated driver or a van service for a low cost. You can arrange to have taxis to call. Plan to start scaling back servings of alcohol earlier in the evening, too, to help prevent DUI and other accidents. As well, remember that alcohol does not just lead to Florida drunk driving accidents; it also affects mobility and inhibitions, so that guests are more at risk of slip and fall accidents as well as other injuries. You could be held liable if you serve alcohol and a guest injures themselves at your party.
2) Consider an afternoon party. An afternoon weekend party allows you to enjoy the great weather and also allows you to avoid sending out guests late at night. Accidents are more common late at night, as guests are more tired and are more likely to lose control of the car. Late at night, there are also more trucks on the roads, making Florida truck accidents more likely. Sending guests home early also ensures that guests are not as tired and are not affected by alcohol as well, which can lead to poor decisions. Having an earlier party also makes it easier for guests to take taxis or the bus home.
3) Have a plan for getting home safely yourself. If you are headed to a party yourself, make sure that you have at least a few alternatives for getting home safely. Do not assume that you won’t drink and don’t assume that you can get home safely with a designated driver. You or your designated driver may end up being tempted to drink. Bring enough cash for a cab or a nearby motel or have a few friends you can call for a safe ride home.
4) Talk to your loved ones about Florida drunk driving accidents. Make sure that they know they can call you for a ride home and ask for the same privilege. If you have teens who are just starting to drive, have then sign pledges not to drive drunk or distracted.
If you have been injured in a Florida truck accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group for help. Arrange for a free accident consultation in our offices in Miami, Homestead, or Hollywood. If you are too injured to travel, our legal team can meet you at your home, workplace, or hospital room to discuss your options and your rights.