The drunkest day of the year is usually said to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, often called Thanksgiving Eve or “Blackout Wednesday.” No government agency ranks days by how much people drink, so the title rests on reputation, bar traffic, and crash data.
What the label does point to is real risk on the road. Federal safety officials run a drunk driving campaign every Thanksgiving week because deadly crashes follow heavy drinking. Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys represents people hurt by impaired drivers, and a West Hollywood drunk driving accident lawyer on our team handles these claims.
Why Is Thanksgiving Eve Called the Drunkest Day of the Year?
Thanksgiving Eve is called the drunkest day of the year because it combines a coming day off, people returning to their hometowns, and reunions at bars and parties. College students and young adults home for the holiday often meet old friends that night.
The nickname “Blackout Wednesday” refers to drinking heavily enough to lose memory of the night. A blackout is a gap in memory, not passing out, and a person in one can still walk, talk, and get behind the wheel.
What Do the Numbers Show About Thanksgiving Drunk Driving?
From 2019 to 2023, 868 people were killed in drunk driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). On Thanksgiving Eve in 2023, NHTSA counted 92 drivers in fatal crashes, and 33% of them were drunk.
NHTSA’s campaign site reports that from 2020 to 2024, drunk driving crashes caused 910 deaths over Thanksgiving, or 36% of the period’s traffic deaths, according to Traffic Safety Marketing. Those counts run from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday.
California sees the same pattern. During the 2024 Thanksgiving enforcement period, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) made more than 1,100 DUI arrests, and 36 people died in crashes statewide.
What Are California’s DUI Limits?
California’s DUI limit is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% for adult drivers under Cal. Veh. Code § 23152. Commercial drivers face a 0.04% limit under the same section.
Drivers under 21 face a 0.01% limit under Cal. Veh. Code § 23136, which effectively means no alcohol at all.
A common belief holds that a driver under 0.08% is legally safe. That’s wrong. Section 23152 also bars driving under the influence at any BAC, so a driver who shows impairment below 0.08% can still be arrested and held responsible for a crash.
How Can You Get Home Safely on Thanksgiving Eve?
You can get home safely on Thanksgiving Eve by planning your ride before the first drink, while your judgment is still clear. These steps help:
- Pick a designated driver who won’t drink at all, not the person who drinks the least
- Book a taxi or rideshare, take transit, or plan to stay the night, and have a backup option
- Refuse a ride from anyone who has been drinking, even if they say they feel fine
- Wear your seat belt, which cuts the risk of death for front-seat passengers by 45%, according to NHTSA figures the CHP cites
Coffee, food, and cold showers don’t sober you up. Only time clears alcohol from your body, and impairment after heavy drinking can last into the next morning. If you spot a driver weaving, keep your distance and have a passenger call 911, or pull over first.
What Should You Do After a Crash With a Drunk Driver?
After a crash with a drunk driver, call 911 and tell the dispatcher you suspect impairment. In West Hollywood, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station respond on city streets like Santa Monica Boulevard, while the CHP handles freeways such as US-101. Then:
- Get medical care at a hospital such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, even if you feel fine
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries if it’s safe
- Get names and contact details from the driver and any witnesses
- Write down what you saw, such as weaving, slurred speech, or open containers, without confronting the driver
You must also file an SR-1 form with the DMV within 10 days if the crash caused injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage, under Cal. Veh. Code § 16000.
Keep your medical bills, the police report number, and records of missed work. Omega Law Group uses these records to build the injury claim while the criminal case moves on its own track.
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(310) 526-8383 Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Drunk Driving Crash?
The impaired driver is usually the main party responsible, along with that driver’s insurer. An employer may also share responsibility if the driver was working at the time of the crash.
People often assume they can sue the bar or party host that served the driver. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1714, a social host who serves an adult generally can’t be held liable for the crash.
Two exceptions apply to underage drinkers. An adult who knowingly serves someone under 21 at home may be liable under § 1714, and a licensed seller who serves an obviously intoxicated minor may be liable under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 25602.1. Omega Law Group looks for every source of coverage in these cases.
Can You Seek Compensation From a Drunk Driver?
You can seek compensation from a drunk driver through a civil injury claim, which is separate from any DUI prosecution. You don’t need a criminal conviction to file, but you still need evidence that the driver caused your crash and your losses.
Compensation may cover medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. In some cases, Cal. Civ. Code § 3294 allows punitive damages when a defendant acted with malice, which can include a conscious disregard for others’ safety.
Omega Law Group has recovered $2,000,000 for a client in an auto accident case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Drunkest Day of the Year FAQs
These answers cover follow-up questions about Thanksgiving Eve and drunk driving claims.
What Is Blackout Wednesday?
Blackout Wednesday is a nickname for the night before Thanksgiving, when many people drink heavily at bars and reunions. The name refers to memory blackouts, not an official holiday or a legal term.
Does the Drunk Driver’s Insurance Pay for Your Injuries?
The drunk driver’s liability insurance generally pays for your injuries, up to the policy’s limits. California drivers must carry at least $30,000 for one person’s injury or death, $60,000 for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage, according to the California DMV.
Those minimums often fall short after a serious crash, and some impaired drivers carry no insurance at all. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference, so check your policy before you talk to either insurer.
How Long Do You Have to File a Drunk Driving Injury Claim in California?
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a drunk driving injury lawsuit in California under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. If a government vehicle was involved, a claim generally must be presented within six months under Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2.
The lawyers at Omega Law Group can confirm which deadline applies to your crash.
Talk to Omega Law Group After a Holiday Drunk Driving Crash
Thanksgiving Eve may hold the title of the drunkest day of the year, but an impaired driver can cause a crash on any night. If one hurt you or someone you love, Omega Law Group can handle the insurers, gather the evidence, and pursue the compensation your case supports.
Call Omega Law Group for a free consultation.
