Teen Killed, Three Critically Injured in New Year’s Eve Accident in Gainesville
In an absolutely horrific tragedy that took place on New Year’s Eve, one teen was killed and three were critically injured in a wreck that took place at 10:48 p.m. on I-75 near Gainesville. According to a report regarding the crash, a car with four teens in it was speeding when the 17-year-old driver lost control. The vehicle then left the highway and hit a ditch before hitting a tree and coming to rest. One of the injured teens had two broken arms, while another had a broken arm, multiple broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. Each of the two girls has been through multiple surgeries at UF Shands Hospital in Gainesville according to family members. Police have not released any details as to whether they believe alcohol may also have played a factor in the accident in addition to the driver’s excessive speed or not. This tragic occurrence is a simple reminder of how deadly New Year’s Eve can be. Alcohol, excessive speed, and risky behavior come together to cause more fatalities than during any other week of the year according to traffic safety experts.
New Year’s Eve: One of the Deadliest Times of the Year
New Year’s Eve and the week leading up to the holiday is typically one of the most dangerous times of the year for drunk driving given the number of people that choose to attend parties or drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel and drive. An estimate from a traffic safety organization the National Safety Council forecast that 408 fatalities would occur nationwide during the week leading up to New Year’s Eve.
The safety organization further noted that, based on 2020 (the most recent year for which comprehensive data was available), 30 percent of the traffic fatalities in an average week during the year would be alcohol-related, whereas during the week that includes New Year’s Eve, 49 percent of traffic fatalities involved alcohol. Therefore, not only is there an increased number of fatalities during this week, but there is also a higher number of those fatalities in which alcohol plays a role in the deaths that occur. This spike is attributable to the holiday and the large number of people that drink and drive at New Year’s as compared to other times of the year.
Contact Schwed, Adams & McGinley
If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver in Florida, you will need an experienced personal injury attorney who has represented motorists injured by drunk drivers to help you to recover maximum damages for your injuries. Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A. today. We have achieved great success in representing clients who may have been involved in accidents in which alcohol played a role, regardless of whether the accident occurred around New Year’s Eve or at any other point in the year. Contact us today at (877) 694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation regarding your situation.