The winter holidays often accompany significant legal issues for many people in New Jersey. Every year, the winter season sparks a number of disputes, many of which end up in court or at an attorney’s office. There are many factors that contribute to the upsurge in legal issues around the end of the year, and one of the most prominent is the drinking associated with holiday revelry. New Year’s Eve events are often accompanied by substantial alcohol consumption and may give rise to personal injury complaints, even for people who are not involved in partying themselves.
For example, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are all days with significant risks of being injured in a drunk driving crash because others on the road are more likely to drive while intoxicated after a party. In some cases, bars and restaurants may themselves be held accountable for the damage done by drunk drivers during the winter season. Dram shop laws allow victims of a crash to sue establishments if it can be shown that the establishment served people who were already intoxicated.
Even when no one is drunk, car accidents can be a common problem simply because many more people are on the road to travel for the holidays. Negligent, distracted or otherwise dangerous drivers pose a greater threat to more people on crowded roads. In addition, there may be more truck or delivery drivers on the road with greater pressure to make their deliveries on time before the holidays arrive, leading to truck driver fatigue or carelessness.
People can be severely hurt in motor vehicle accidents year-round due to others’ negligence on the road, leading to catastrophic injuries or permanent disabilities. A personal injury lawyer may help people to pursue compensation for their damages, including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
