Late Games Increase Risk of Auto Accidents
It is no secret that the University of Tennessee’s status as a dry campus does not completely preclude the consumption of alcohol by football fans before and during football games. As such, it seems inevitable that some fans unfortunately make the dangerous decision to drive home while under the influence of alcohol, especially when Neyland Stadium plays host to a late game, giving fans the opportunity to tailgate all day before attending the game that night. Those who attend the games or are driving near Neyland Stadium after the games should use extra caution and be on the alert for drivers around them who may be driving under the influence.
After the University of Tennessee’s most recent football game against Memphis, a driver who was apparently under the influence of alcohol was hospitalized after crashing his car into a parked car on Volunteer Boulevard. The crash caused the driver’s SUV to roll over and land on its top. The driver had to be pulled from the car, but does not have any life-threatening injuries. Police suspect that the driver was driving under the influence because alcohol was found in the wreckage.
A Knoxville police officer quoted after the crash stated that late games are especially problematic when it comes to driving under the influence, because people have a tendency to tailgate or drink throughout the day and then want to drive home at night. Such behavior, however, is both illegal and negligent under Tennessee law and could result in the driver at fault being held liable for damages. A driver is behaving negligently under Tennessee law any time he or she is driving in a manner other than that in which an ordinarily prudent person would drive. Thus, driving under the influence is clearly negligent under Tennessee law. Even worse for the aspiring drunk driver, if the driver who causes an accident is behaving in a reckless manner, he or she may be responsible for punitive damages as well. These are the large damage awards frequently publicized in lawsuits that are intended to deter similar conduct in the future.
Drivers should be increasingly cautious about driving near college football stadiums during or after games, especially if those games begin later in the day. Drivers who have had all day to partake in football-related festivities are more likely to be driving under the influence after the game is over which brings about an increased risk of East Tennessee motor vehicle accidents in general. Add to this the fact that game-day driving is more congested than normal and you have the recipe for driving conditions which are substantially more conducive to wrecks and resulting injuries than usual. As a result, drivers need to be more cautious when driving in or near these areas, and drivers who intend to drink during the day should appoint a designated driver who will be able to avoid the many obstacles of game-day traffic. Doing so can help you avoid both lawsuits and serious injury.
Sources: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=104170&catid=2
