7 Ways to Stay Safe on St. Patrick’s Day – Tips from an Omaha Accident Lawyer

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and some of Omaha’s most popular pubs will open their doors at 6 a.m. Alderman’s, Brazen Head, Barley Street, Barrett’s and Brewsky’s have all announced their plans to celebrate.

The holidays are the perfect times to bond with family and friends, but nothing will ruin the fun faster than a drunk-driving accident. Unfortunately, these collisions spike on St. Patrick’s Day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If the worst happens and you are injured by a drunk driver, contact Rensch & Rensch Law. An Omaha accident lawyer can investigate your crash, talk to witnesses and handle settlement negotiations on your behalf. Our attorneys have litigated more than 100 jury trials.

Call 1-800-471-4100 to schedule a consultation. You can also learn more about drunk-driving laws in Nebraska by visiting the USAttorneys website.

Here are seven tips to help you stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day:

If you are going to a St. Patrick’s Day event:

1. Before leaving for the party, make sure everyone has a designated, sober driver.
2. Moderate your drinking pace. Do not consume too much too fast.
3. Alternate each drink with water or another non-alcoholic beverage.
4. Do not ride with a drunk driver.
5. Call a taxi if everyone is drunk.
6. Do not let intoxicated friends drive.
7. Buckle up. Not wearing a seatbelt is against the law, according to the Nebraska Department of Highway Safety, and it can save your life.

If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day event:

1. Designate sober drivers for all of your guests as part of your party preparations. Organize ridesharing options with sober guests, keep a list of local taxi services, and install the Uber app on your phone.
2. Make sure there is enough food for all of your guests, as well as a steady supply of non-alcoholic drinks.
3. If you plan to stay sober, offer to drive wayward guests home.
4. Encourage guests to pace themselves and drink in moderation.
5. Stop serving alcohol toward the end of the party and replace it with desserts and coffee.
6. Confiscate car keys if any of your guests are too intoxicated to drive.
7. Ensure that no minors take advantage of your booze supply. You may be liable if your drunk, underage guests kill or injure people after leaving your party.

Although these tips can reduce your risk of getting in a drunk-driving crash, nobody can control the actions of other motorists. If you are injured by an intoxicated driver, then you may be entitled to compensation to pay for medical bills, lost income and other damages.

If the crash happened in Nebraska, contact Rensch & Rensch Law. An Omaha injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process. Our attorneys have more than 45 years of combined legal experience, and if we do not win, then you do not pay attorneys’ fees. Call 1-800-471-4100 to schedule a consultation.