Do Drunk Driving Accidents Increase During the Holidays?

Everyone loves the holidays. They are an exciting time for most people because they get a day off work, they can celebrate with friends and family, and they can plan a quick getaway from home. The holidays also means more drivers on the road and traffic congestion resulting in frustrated drivers. If you find yourself in an unfortunate car accident this winter, make sure you have a trusted car accident attorney to ensure you receive the justice you deserve.

Although drunken driving crashes fell by 4% from 2010 to 2018, drunken driving crashes still pose a threat to drivers during the holidays. However, the number of people killed in drunken driving car crashes amounts to less than 10% of the total fatalities attributable to alcohol-impaired driving. Autoinsurance.org reports the top ten deadliest holidays to drive in reverse order as:

1. Easter
2. Veteran’s Day
3. Thanksgiving
4. Halloween
5. Mother’s Day
6. Cinco de Mayo
7. Father’s Day
8. Independence Day
9. Labor Day
10. Memorial Day

A combination of factors including the warmer weather, increased traffic, and the three-day weekend, contribute to make Memorial Day the top deadliest holiday to drive.

If you are involved in a car crash during the holidays, your insurance company will cover the cost of your medical bills and property damage.

Auto Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania

Every driver is required to have car insurance in order to legally drive in Pennsylvania. Failure to maintain car insurance may result in a 3-month suspension of your vehicle registration. Your driver’s license may also be suspended for 3 months if you operate your vehicle without the required insurance coverage.

Pennsylvania law requires drivers to have insurance policies with the following limits:

• Medical Benefits – minimum $5,000
• Bodily Injury Liability – minimum $15,000 for injury to one person, and $30,000 to cover total injuries in an accident
• Property Damage Liability – minimum $5,000

With the required minimums, you can choose to get limited or full tort coverage. Full tort coverage gives you unrestricted rights to sue a negligent driver for the damage they cause in excess of your basic coverage.

A driver may choose to get insurance coverage beyond these minimums, and also buy additional coverage for other damages not covered by a basic policy. There are a variety of coverage plans including underinsured motorist coverage, which covers you and your family if you are involved in a crash with an at-fault driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your claim for bodily injury.

No-Fault Insurance in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state, which means that all drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. Under no-fault insurance rules, when a covered driver is involved in a car crash, their damages including medical costs are paid by their own insurance company regardless of who was at fault for the accident. No-fault insurance rules aim to reduce the time and complexity for accident victims to get compensation for the damages they suffer in an accident. However, they also cap the amount of damages an injured person may recover.

No-fault rules limit your ability to sue for damages beyond medical costs except in very limited circumstances where you suffer serious injuries from the crash.

Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney

If you have suffered serious injury in a drunk driving accident, you need an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who understands the law and will fight to ensure you are fully compensated for all your losses. At Rosembaum & Associates, we are committed to getting you the financial compensation you need to make a full recovery from your accident. Call us today at 215-569-0200 for a free consultation and review of your case.