Bittersweet Justice for the Family of Ravenswood Cyclist Killed by a Drunk Driver

Last month, a drunk driver hit and killed a cyclist in Ravenswood. Though the driver took off after the crash, police did catch her (thanks to the help of witnesses in the area). Given how often hit-and-run drivers go free, this is good news.

ABC News reports that the driver blew a .20 BAC during the breath test, that she “’failed to come to a complete stop’ at three stop signs while police attempted to pull her over with lights and sirens,” and that surveillance video shows the driver in the bike lane before she hit the victim. Police also found a liquor bottle in her purse.

The driver will face justice. But justice can be bittersweet when it comes. The victim of the hit-and-run died, and his family has to live that loss – an entirely preventable loss. We’re very happy that the drunk driver was caught, but we are truly heartbroken for the family. And with the holiday season in full swing, we know that this terrible tragedy is unlikely to be the last one this year.

Does drunk driving really increase during the holidays?

The deadly drunk driving crash in Ravenswood happened in late October, which admittedly is before the holiday season really gets started. But the data shows that drunk driving instances do increase during the holidays. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that “drunk driving crashes surge as much as 40% during the holidays.” The issue is dire enough that December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

There are a lot of reasons why there are more drunk driving crashes and arrests. First, there are a lot of holiday parties. A study out of New York found that “holiday parties and festive libations cause 16% of adults to drink more this time of year.” Assuming this holds true in all states, the sheer number of people who are drinking increases.

Second, there’s a lot of road travel. The number of vehicles on the road is just higher during the holiday season, as folks travel to see family and friends (and attend those extra parties), but also as they shop for gifts or food for meals. Even travelers who choose to use rideshares or taxis are still part of the extra traffic. So, it stands to reason that with so many extra cars on the road, the chances of an accident of any kind increase. Throw in a larger percentage of people drinking, and the chances of a drunk driving crash also increase.

Third, the roads can be more treacherous because of the weather. Icy roads and high winds are difficult enough to navigate when you’re sober; a drunk driver is far more likely to crash because of inclement weather. Their reaction times are slowed down, too, which means they’re less likely to avoid a potential road hazard, like a patch of ice or debris in the road. They more be more likely to jerk their steering wheel to one side or slam their brakes, increasing the risk of a collision.

Finally, there are more police out on the roads – and that means more checkpoints and more stops. On the one hand, the increased number of arrests for drunk driving might be a “good” thing; after all, it stops those drivers, right? On the other hand, everyone knows that the police are out and it still doesn’t stop folks from drinking and driving (or using marijuana and driving), which leads us to believe that the numbers are probably even higher than we suspect.

Do the number of hit-and-run crashes increase during the holiday season?

The problem with tracking hit-and-runs is that, well, no one really does it – at least, not in a way that provides any measurable metrics. But analysis done by Value Penguin (using 10 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s FARS data) found that February and December had the greatest percentage of fatal hit-and-run crashes (6.2% of all fatal accidents) from 2012-2021. The greatest number of fatal hit-and-runs, however, occurred in October.

What does this tell us? First, we know that it’s darker in the winter, and that people are more likely to be drunk and distracted on the roads during the holiday season. Drunk drivers may flee a scene to avoid getting arrested; distracted drivers may not even know they hit someone.

Second, we know that during December, at least, there are more likely to be pedestrians out and about as they shop – and that the FARS data says that 6.2% of all fatal hit-and-runs involved pedestrians. We also know that pedestrians in urban areas are more likely be to killed in car crashes than those in suburban areas.

So, based on the data we see, we extrapolate that hit-and-run fatalities do tend to increase during the holiday season, but we can only speculate as to why it happens.

How our Chicago car accident attorneys can help if you’re injured in a crash

Whether you are injured in a hit-and-run or by a drunk driver, in a collision related to distracted driving or by a speeding or reckless driver, you’re going to have questions. Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers can help. Our car accident lawyers in Chicago have represented individuals and families all over the Chicagoland area when:

• They needed help securing a better settlement from a negligent driver for the long-term care they needed
• An insurance company refused to play ball, and taking the case to a jury was the only way forward
• Their own insurance company didn’t want to pay out on a UM/UIM claim
• There were multiple liable parties and none of them wanted to take responsibility for the roles they played
• A local or state agency was in some way responsible for the crash that caused our clients’ injuries
• A bar, restaurant, or social host overserved a guest or patron, and then allowed that guest or patron to get behind the wheel

In short, no matter whose negligence caused your injuries, our team is ready and able to help. You can talk with us for free about your case, and you won’t pay anything unless we win – there’s truly no cost to you at all. Call or contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers today to learn more. We’re here to help.