Stay Safe, Avoid Drunk Driving Accidents on Super Bowl Sunday

Millions of people across the U.S. will gather Sunday to watch the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks square off in Super Bowl XLIX.

Whether your team is in the big game or not, Super Bowl Sunday is a time many people look forward to sharing with friends and family. We’ll gather around the TV, eat snacks, watch the much-anticipated commercials, and often enjoy a few adult beverages.

Those are all fun things to do, but the Houston car accident attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris know that Super Bowl parties often result in accidents when impaired drivers get behind the wheel to go home. Whether you’re attending a celebration or hosting one, consider these tips for keeping yourself, your friends, and those on the roads with you safe on Super Bowl Sunday.

If you’re attending a Super Bowl celebration:

1. Designated driver: If you’re heading to a party, a sports bar or restaurant to watch the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, designate a sober driver before leaving the house. A sober driver means not drinking ANY alcohol.

2. Pace yourself: If you’re drinking, don’t go too fast. Eat plenty of food, and alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic. Always be aware of how much alcohol you’re drinking. If you don’t track your drinks, you may be drinking more than you realize.

3. Buckle up: Even if you’re not drinking, it’s likely others on the road around you will be. Our Houston auto accident lawyers know that buckling your seatbelt is the best defense in the event of an accident with a drunk driver.

4. Watch out for your friends: Never let your friends who have had too much to drink drive themselves home. Find them a sober ride, call a cab, call a family member or find a couch for them to sleep on. This goes for you, too!

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl celebration:

1. Arrange for sober rides: When you’re the host, make sure your guests have sober rides home. Keep the number of a cab company on hand, call a friend or family member to pick impaired guests up, or offer them a spare bed, couch or sleeping bag to crash on.

2. Offer options: As a host, you should keep plenty of food for your guests to eat and offer non-alcoholic drink options.

3. Host like a stadium: At football stadiums, they stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter. This is a great idea for at-home football parties too.

4. Remember, you’re responsible: You don’t want to be held liable if someone drives home drunk from your party and gets into an accident, so taking the above measures is important. Also, be cautious with young party-goers. Serving alcohol to minors is a big no-no.

The Texas drunk driving accident lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers hope you and your friends have a great, safe time celebrating Sunday. However, if you’re injured in a drunk driving accident, our attorneys are always available to advise you of your legal rights and help you file a claim if necessary.