Our Arizona car accident attorneys want you to know that more than 675,000 Arizonians are expected to travel 50 miles or more to their Labor Day weekend destination this year. That’s a 6 percent increase from last year, and we’ll over the 4.3 percent national increase. According to the Phoenix Business Journal, close to 85 percent of these travelers will be driving to their destination. The increase is largely a result of lower gas prices.
Unfortunately, officials with the Arizona Department of Transportation have not decided to stop any construction projects during the holiday weekend, according to KOLD. Existing work zones will remain in place and drivers are asked to use caution in those areas, according to a news release.
Our Mesa car accident lawyers understand that an increase in traffic causes an increase in the risks for accidents, and we encourage all motorists to behave responsibly through the long travel weekend. Throughout the country, officers will be out on the roadways looking for dangerous and irresponsible drivers. One of the biggest concerns during this time of the year is drunk drivers. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, we see a significant increase in the number of fatal alcohol-related car accidents.
In Arizona, there were more than 15 people killed in car accidents during the 2012 Labor Day holiday weekend. The year before, we saw 7 fatalities. It’s clear that as the economy recovers, more people feel comfortable spending on these much-needed vacations. But with more vacationers, we see an increase in accidents — and fatalities.
In the state of Arizona, if you’re busted for a first-time DUI offense, you’re looking at a year of license suspension, a minimum of one day in jail, fines of around $2,000 and a possible ignition interlock device (IID).
Alcohol-related crashes are painful and expensive. Costs to treat the injured are passed on to taxpayers in the form of increased public health costs and higher insurance premiums. When it comes to impaired driving, everyone loses.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, alcohol is a factor in nearly 30 percent of all crash costs. Economic loses for these accidents run close to $500,000,000.
Figure it this way: the average cost of a deadly alcohol-related fatalities is close to $3.5 million. Alcohol-related accidents accounted for more than 15 percent of the state’s auto insurance payments.
For this reason, we’re asking you to be safe and responsible out there. If your Labor Day festivities involve alcohol, make sure that they also involve a designated driver. Unfortunately, sometimes even the designated driver slips. If nobody in your group is sober, take alternate transportation. Cab, train, bus, horse and buggy – anything’s better than getting in the car with a drunk driver. If you happen to spot a driver who you believe to be intoxicated, help to save lives by calling local authorities. Your phone call would make a difference.
We wish you a safe and Happy Labor Day, and ask that you celebrate responsibly.
Personal injury attorneys at Rowley Chapman Barney & Buntrock, Ltd. are prepared to aggressively fight for you to ensure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. If you were injured in an accident, call us at (480) 833-1113.
