Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer

St. Patrick's Day Safety

St. Patrick's Day, although seemingly benign, is a day where more and more fatalities occur. Its placement in the middle of "spring break week" for many college campuses, along with the general expectation that drinking will occur throughout the day rather than only during the evening, creates an environment where alcohol-related accidents are much more likely.

In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one third of all fatalities on St. Patrick's Day occur as a direct result of drinking or drunk drivers. As such, there are a number of things you can do to make sure that your St. Patrick's Day is a safe one.

• Be Physical. Take part in physical activities such as dancing or sports. Doing so will make you more thirsty for water rather than alcohol, and can help burn through the alcohol that you have consumed more efficiently. Additionally, walking rather than driving to your locations can give you a twofold benefit; in addition to providing exercise, it also lessens the temptation to drive while intoxicated.
• Eat heavy foods and drink non-alcoholic beverages. By drinking one non-alcoholic beverage for every alcoholic beverage you consume, you can pace yourself and ensure that you do not become too intoxicated too quickly. Fortunately, many traditional St. Patrick's Day foods are carbohydrate and protein heavy and can help slow the absorption of alcohol.
• Assign a Designated Driver. Perhaps the most important step that you can take, assigning a designated driver will ensure that you do not step behind the wheel of a car while even slightly intoxicated.

This article is not intended to serve as, or as a replacement for, legal advice. If you have been injured during St. Patrick's Day, contact Las Vegas personal injury lawyers, Palmer & Associates, at 702-888-2222.