You may already have seen the story that our Houston car crash attorneys passed along about the helpful Santa Claus who saved a man from a burning wreck up in DFW. Santa Claus is also on record this holiday season in a TxDOT commercial scolding his partying reindeer after they’ve indulged in a bit too much holiday cheer.
After all, drunk is no way to pull a sleigh full of heavy toys through neighborhoods filled with hopeful children. How would concerned parents explain the sleigh crashed into the roof? The myriad of smashed toys spread across the neighborhood? And the stumbling reindeer tangled in the sleigh’s traces while police ticketed a sheepish Santa Claus for DWIR (Driving with Intoxicated Reindeer)?
The TxDOT message, while conveyed in an entertaining way, is dead serious. Our Houston car crash attorneys have discussed before how Texas has one of the highest rates of drunken driving and alcohol-related fatalities of all the U.S. states. For some years, our state has held the dubious honor of first place in alcohol-related fatalities. Last year, Texas had 2,998 alcohol-related crashes.
And the holiday season from Thanksgiving week through New Year’s brings the highest concentration of DWI offenses and alcohol-related crashes. TxDOT is partnering with other agencies and organizations to raise awareness of the dangers of drunken driving this season as well as awareness of alternative options for getting home if you’ve had a bit too much holiday cheer.
During the holidays, the DPS is focusing on use of “no refusal” policies that enable officers to get forced blood draws from suspects arrested for DWI offenses. And many establishments selling and serving alcohol are arranging for free cab rides home for patrons who need them. Billboards, commercials, bar coasters, and several other methods are being used to get the word out about the dangers of drinking and driving and the options you have for getting home safely after you’ve drunk a bit too much.
The essential message is: by all means, enjoy the holidays. But do so responsibly. Don’t endanger your own life or others’ lives. Our Houston car crash attorneys remind you that if you’ve had too much to drink to drive safely, there’s help available to get you home. You can designate a driver for your holiday nights out, or look for an establishment offering free cab rides home. Don’t bring your holiday season to an untimely end. Drive safely, and drink responsibly.
And if you have the misfortune to be injured in a wreck caused by a negligent driver during the holidays, you can contact our Houston car crash attorneys for a free and confidential legal consultation. We could help you learn about the steps you need to take to preserve accident evidence and your legal rights to financial compensation for your injuries. We could help you successfully prove your valid claim and obtain a full financial recovery for your injuries. Contact us through our website or toll free at 877-307-9500.