More than any other major holiday in the U.S., the Fourth of July sees a spike in the number of deaths resulting from drunk driving crashes. New Jersey residents should know that 1,192 people were killed in DUI crashes on the Fourth of July between 2010 and 2017. The second deadliest holiday turned out to be Memorial Day with 1,105 people dying on that day between the same years. In all, the average DUI fatality rate was 23% higher on Independence Day.
It is also a far more deadly day than the average summer day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 184 DUI fatalities in 2017 on the Fourth of July weekend. A comparable span of four or five summer days sees an average of 117 such fatalities. The Fourth of July DUI fatality rate is 40.9, whereas that of an equivalent summer day is 26.1. This amounts to a 57% jump on the holiday.
The fatality rate is lower when the Fourth of July falls on the weekend than when it falls on a weekday: 36.3 per day compared to 43.4. This average was measured by the number of DUI deaths from 2012 to 2017. Wednesday is the deadliest day that the holiday can fall on; its fatality rate was 52.
DUI crashes, if they do not end in death, may still result in severe injuries. Those who are not to blame for the crash may be able to pursue a personal injury case and be compensated for economic and non-economic damages like medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost wages and pain and suffering. It may be a good idea to see a lawyer, though, since filing a claim alone is difficult. The lawyer might negotiate for a settlement, taking the case to court if one cannot be reached.