More DUI deaths on July Fourth than any other US holiday

Independence Day is the major US holiday that sees the most drunk driving fatalities, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Texas residents will want to be very careful if they go out on the road during this holiday. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of DUI fatalities came to 1,192. After this came Memorial Day with 1,105 such fatalities in the same period.

July Fourth is also deadlier when it takes place on a weekday. The DUI fatality rate for this holiday has been calculated as 43.4 on the weekdays and 36.3 on the weekend. The safest day, at least relatively, is Saturday, and Wednesday is the most dangerous. The rate for Wednesday is 52 deaths per day on average.

The Fourth of July is also more dangerous than any comparable summer day. In 2017, for instance, there were 184 DUI-related deaths during the July Fourth weekend. By contrast, an equivalent period of four or five summer days saw an average of 117 deaths.

Drunk driving is defined as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or above. The consequences of DUI can include a 90-day license suspension and a fine of hundreds or thousands of dollars. First-time offenders may even go to jail.

When alcohol is involved in a motor vehicle crash, it can open up the possibility of a personal injury claim being filed. Victims may want to see a lawyer first to determine if they qualify for compensatory damages under the modified comparative fault rule that Texas adheres to. If they do, they could hire the attorney for guidance. Most personal injury lawyers have access to a network of investigators, medical experts and other third parties who can help strengthen a case.