As the festive period approaches and our diaries fill with event invites and Christmas and New Year parties, it can be all too tempting to unwind and allow yourself to enjoy a tipple before heading home. It is also very easy to forget the next morning, after a late night, that you may still have quantities of alcohol in your system.

It is estimated that annually there are 8,600 causalities¹ per year arising from drink-drive accidents. Of this number, 1,640 people are seriously injured or killed.

It may be surprising to know that out of the total number of drink-drive accidents and causalities during the course of the year, estimates show that 1,740 people have had alcohol in their system but were still under the legal limit to drive.

Irrespective of how much alcohol you drink, the effects and whether you remain below the limit are not straight forward. Your blood alcohol level will depend on a number of factors including but not limited to your weight, age, gender, metabolism and the type of alcohol you are drinking.

If you are planning on driving during the festive season, it is better to stay alcohol free and safe on the road.

The effects of being involved in an accident can be devastating for those involved and their loved ones. Serious injuries can be life altering and it can be particularly unsettling to know that the accident could have been prevented if the responsible driver not had alcohol in their system.

For more information on the law and for the latest Government THINK! Campaigns, click here.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident on the road and would like some advice, please contact the Personal Injury Department on 01256 844888 alternatively you can email enquiries@lambbrooks.com or speak to our Live Chat assistant who is online throughout the day, including evenings and weekends.

¹Based on the figures provided by the Department for Transport for 2017

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.  The law may have changed since this article was published.   Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.