Drunk Driving and Football Games: Defend Your Rights

Football is a popular pastime in the United States, with the NFL peaking at $15.3 billion in revenue in 2019. Even during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the NFL continued to rake in over $12 billion.

Whether you rooted for the Los Angeles Rams or the Cincinnati Bengals at the most recent championship game, odds are you were among the 112.3 million people who tuned in on February 13. Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents are more common after big sporting events when fans leave the arena or watch party having had a little too much to drink. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, it’s important to speak to a car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Facts About Football Games and Drunk Drivers

Research conducted at the University of Minnesota uncovered these facts:

• One in 12 NFL spectators leaves the stadium legally drunk.
• Spectators under age 35 are eight times more likely to leave drunk than older attendees.
• One in four tailgaters admits to downing at least five alcoholic drinks during the game.
• Tailgaters are 14 times more likely to leave the sporting event intoxicated.

Get Home Safely After the Game

Whether you attend a football game in person or watch it on TV at a bar, restaurant, or friend’s house, make sure you get home safely with these tips:

• Know the limit: In Virginia, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08. So play it safe—don’t drive home if you have anything to drink during the game.
• Choose a designated driver: Rotate the responsibility between your friends so someone different acts as the DD each time. Another safe option is to get home using a ridesharing service.
• Take the back roads: If you’re nervous about drunk drivers on the road after a big game, consider taking less busy neighborhood streets. As a bonus, you’ll also avoid most of the traffic.
• Stay in the right lane: Driving on the far right side of the road helps protect you from drunk drivers who drift into oncoming traffic. You also lower your risk of being side-swiped if you stick to the right lane as much as possible.

You Could be Entitled to Compensation

If a drunk driver hits you on game day or any other time, you can’t expect the police to stand up for your rights. They may haul the perpetrator away in handcuffs, but what about your physical injuries and mental health? If you hope to recover compensation, you must work with a personal injury attorney.

Rely on Childers and Associates to represent your claim and get you the money you deserve. We can help build a case to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, lost quality of life, pain and suffering, and other damages. We won’t stop until justice is served! To request your free case review, please call our Manassas, VA, office at (703) 330-6300 today.