Riverside Personal Injury Law Blog

Authorities proclaimed a 7-year-old girl needed 1,000 stitches after a dog almost bit her face off during a visit to a private animal rescue in Southern California.

Do-gooders banning certain dog breeds. Good or bad, it's happening.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, but Don't Drive Catastrophe Meter St. Patrick's Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. It is an excellent example of many of the things that make our country great. Furthermore, the festival also shows respect for a religious leader and old figure. It brings Irish culture into the wider American one. It brings all people together, Catholic or not, into one big feast day. However, some people go too far in their revelry. St. Patrick's Day is a beautiful tradition that we should keep as pure as possible. Drink if you choose, but don't get behind the wheel. Ehline Law's here to let you know some of the critical facts and figures behind this holiday. What is The History of St. Patrick's Day? St. Patrick's Day is often associated with the Catholic Church and Ireland. St. Patrick was a Christian missionary and later bishop in Ireland. He wrote a story of his travels, including his early days in Roman Britain. Members of his family were Christians. Patrick himself was kidnapped and brought back to Ireland at 16 years old. The raiders enslaved him, and he worked for six years as a shepherd. It is at this point; God told him to flee to the ocean, waiting for a boat. The future Saint did and made it back to Britain. He returned to Ireland and converted the formerly pagan Irish to the Christian faith. He spent much of his time-saving people. This famous fellow became the tale of his driving of snakes out of Ireland. According to tradition, he died on March 17th, which still bears his name. Ireland celebrates the holiday. But it remains more of a festival for people of Irish descent outside of the homeland. The day includes dancing, drinking, and parades. Chicago has one of the largest parades in the country-- even shown in the Fugitive. People often dress in green and wear clovers to represent the conversion of Ireland. Why are There So Many Drinking and Driving Accidents on St. Patrick's Day? The simple answer is booze. People drink much more alcohol on St. Paddy's day and those around it. This is even more so if it is over a weekend. Since St. Patrick's Day is a Friday this year keep an eye out for drunk drivers. According to NBC Los Angeles, March 17th is one of the deadliest days of the year. Police responded with DUI checkpoints. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, there were 276 fatal accidents on that day between 2009 and 2013. The Laguna Beach Patch reminds everyone that police are out in force this weekend. Additionally, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department is launching its own crackdown. Nerdwallet has a great feature on the increased cost of insurance after a DUI conviction. Drinking and driving are never acceptable. Also, DWIs are enforced more during this period. Stay safe on the road out there and don't drink and drive. Call someone a cab if they're considering doing so.