Halloween can be a fun, exciting time for many people in Nevada. Like other holidays, however, it can also be a particularly dangerous time for motorists. Halloween parties filled with alcohol are common, and revelers can take to the roads even when they are too drunk to drive. This can be an especially dangerous and even deadly combination with the number of trick-or-treating pedestrians also out on Halloween night.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween night is the most dangerous day of the year for drunk driving. The deadliest part of the night for road users is between 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 1. Between 2012 and 2016, the NHTSA said that 44 percent of fatal crashes during that period involved at least one intoxicated driver. Nearly half of these fatalities involved young people aged 21 to 34, often coming to or from Halloween parties. However, the NHTSA also reported more positive news; in 2016, no pedestrians were killed in Halloween car accidents, meaning that trick-or-treaters were safer.
AAA has urged drivers to take precautions before getting behind the wheel on Halloween. Designating a sober driver or planning to take public transit can save lives. In addition, friends can stop their friends from driving drunk by taking their keys. AAA has also urged sober drivers to pay close attention to pedestrians. Many small children are out on Halloween night, and many costumes are dark in color.
Car accidents on any day of the year can lead to severe consequences, including serious injuries and lifelong disabilities. Someone who has been injured in a crash due to another’s dangerous or negligent driving can work with a personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation for their damages, including lost wages and current and future medical bills.