Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should you celebrate New Year’s Eve safely so that you can sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight? Absolutely, especially if you must drive home.

The start of 2016 is just a few hours away, and New Year’s Eve is known for being one of the most dangerous times of the year, especially for accidents involving drunk drivers.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2014, the three-day period around New Year’s Day was the holiday period with the highest amount of drunk driving deaths. Many people use New Year’s Eve celebrations as an excuse to get drunk. When drunk drivers choose to get behind the wheel, they pose a serious danger to themselves and others.

Whether you are hosting a New Year’s Eve party or attending one yourself, remember that there are numerous things you can do to celebrate New Year’s Eve safely and to protect yourself from becoming a statistic, including:

1. Celebrate the New Year without alcohol.
2. If you must drink, know your limit when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
3. Designate a driver, take a cab, or ask a sober friend to come pick you up.
4. Report suspected drunk drivers.
5. If you are attending a New Year’s Eve party, arrange to stay at the party location, or stay at a hotel or motel that is within walking distance.

If you have suffered a significant injury or a loved one has been injured as a result of a New Year’s Eve accident caused by someone else, contact Kennedy, Kennedy, Robbins & Yarbro, LC or call us at (573)686-2459. We offer a free case evaluation for personal injury and auto accident cases. We can advise you of your options and inform you of your right to financial compensation.

Our office will close at noon, Thursday, December 31, 2015. The office will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2016.