Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial national holiday, with the same enjoyable customs of a regular holiday: We gather with family and friends and plenty of food and drink to celebrate one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The party atmosphere carries risks similar to other holiday celebrations. According to the Auto Club (www.calif.aaa.com) and the California Department of Insurance (www.insurance.ca.gov), there is a 77 percent increased risk of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes throughout California on Super Bowl Sunday. In Los Angeles County, the crash rate increases 57 percent, and San Diego County sees a 117 percent rise. The figures reflect an Auto Club analysis of California Highway Patrol crash data from 5 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday through 4 a.m. the following day. The data cover the five Super Bowls played from 2009 through 2013 and were compared to crash rates for the other Sundays in January and February.

Narver Insurance advises everyone to write a “game plan” of safety measures to avoid the increased risk of drinking and driving that could injure or kill you, friends or family, or other innocent people.

For many of us, one deterrent to drinking and driving is the enormous economic expense of a DUI citation. The Auto Club estimates that a first-time misdemeanor conviction can cost up to $15,649 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and increased insurance costs. Attorneys who are arrested could also be subject to disciplinary actions by the State Bar, costing more legal fees and untold economic damage to your legal reputation and practice. The estimated cost of a first-offense misdemeanor DUI for a driver under 21 years of age is $21,500. That doesn’t include social host liability issues for the owner of […]