Even though the police ask that people don’t drink and drive over the busy holiday weekends, the truth is that many people still do. Driving while intoxicated can lead to crashes, injuries and deaths, which is why the authorities work hard to stop drunk drivers before they hurt anyone.
It is easy to see why there is such an uptick in drunk driving over the July 4 weekend. People are spending time outside, drinking and having parties. They may not plan to stay the night where they are or drive somewhere special to watch fireworks. Unfortunately, if drinking is involved in an event, those who are there could end up driving home drunk.
News from the Connecticut State Police reports that the authorities arrested 19 people for driving drunk over the July 4 weekend. Hundreds of others were ticketed for speeding, seat belt violations and other moving violations, like weaving, making unsafe lane changes and tailgating.
The authorities reported that four of the DUI arrests did take place after crashes had occurred. They didn’t say if anyone was injured in those collisions. They did note that the statistics, which only included Friday and Saturday’s data, showed that the police had made fewer than half of the DUI arrests that they had the year prior. In 2019, 50 people were charged for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving over the July 4 weekend.
The police reported that they responded to 179 collisions by Saturday night, but none were serious. In Fairfield, one woman was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, however.
If you are struck by a drunk driver, you have a right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and more. An experienced attorney can provide advice and guidance.
