As residents of New Jersey and other states relax in front of their televisions during the holiday season, their attention might be drawn to the issue of drunk driving. A sign of the season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has commenced its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. As part of the annual NHTSA safety program, a TV commercial designed to remind motorists about the risks and consequences of drunk driving is running nationwide.
Showing a man in the back of a police vehicle at the scene of a crash, the advertisement warns of the risks and consequences of driving under the influence. It is paired with an app that allows users to explore the scene of a crash and interact with both victims and responders. The SaferRide app, a 360-degree virtual reality web experience, is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.
According to NHTSA statistics, 781 drunk driving related fatalitieswere recorded in December 2016 alone. On average, 300 drunk driving related fatalities have been recorded between Christmas and New Year’s Day each year for the past five years. With the 2017 NHTSA seasonal campaign underway, United States Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has released a statement urging motorists to travel safely during the holidays. An NHTSA deputy administrator cautions motorists, saying that law enforcement officials across the country will be working to protect the public from intoxicated drivers throughout the holiday season.
In New Jersey, motorists that sustain serious injuries in alcohol- or drug-related crashes through no fault of their own may be entitled to financial compensation. Dependent upon the facts of a particular case, an attorney that is practiced in personal injury law could determine the full extent of the loss and negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurer. In some situations, a lawyer could pursue damages on behalf of an injured client or a decedent’s beneficiaries in civil court.
