Christmas is a joyous time but also one of the busiest periods of the year. The roads are guaranteed to be flooded with people and cars as they travel to their families, do their last-minute shopping, and attend Christmas parties.
Unfortunately, the bustling vehicular traffic during the holiday can bring more road and pedestrian accidents.
According to the NHTSA, the Christmas holiday comes with more traffic crash deaths than any other day of the year. In fact, during the 2020 pandemic, when most holiday accidents were at an all-time low, traffic fatalities in the US still went up, according to the New York Times.
It’s easy to get lost in the craze and spirit of Christmas but don’t forget that everyone has a family waiting for them at home. Here are some of the most common causes of holiday accidents and tips on how to avoid them.
- Heavy traffic collision
You’d think that heavy traffic would prevent accidents since cars are moving at a slow pace, but it’s actually the opposite. Statistics suggest that there’s an increased chance of an accident happening during the holiday traffic due to a lot of factors. This includes the following:
- Poor weather conditions. Icy and slick roads can cause drivers to skid out of control, causing rear-end collisions.
- Unfamiliar roads. Since most people will travel or visit friends and families, they will likely traverse unfamiliar roads. This means that there’s an increased possibility of road accidents.
- Trying to save time. A lot of people forgo traffic rules and road etiquette just to save a little bit of time. But instead of arriving early at their destination, people often run into road accidents and car crash fatalities.
The best way to prevent heavy traffic accidents is to abide by traffic regulations, such as maintaining proper speed or using car signals when turning. Since it is the holidays, expect heavy traffic anywhere, so if you’re constricted by time, it’s best to travel earlier to avoid rushing and reckless road behaviors.
- Pedestrian accidents
The number of pedestrian accidents spikes during the holidays as more people and motorists occupy the streets and roads. Both drivers and pedestrians may be distracted by the holiday rush, which may cause them to pay less attention to the road.
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents not only happen on busy roads but also in parking lots of malls and stores. If you have been a victim of a pedestrian or hit-and-run accident victim, then you can contact our Broward County personal injury attorney.
- Drunk driving accidents
For many, the festive season is not complete without attending parties or family gatherings, which usually involve alcohol consumption. Of course, everyone knows that you should not drink and drive, but on some occasions, people might think that a few drinks won’t do any harm. But that’s actually not true.
Alcohol consumption impairs a person’s ability to drive responsibly and make sound decisions, thus increasing the risk of accidents.
According to NHTSA, about 11,654 people died in car crashes in the year 2020 due to individuals driving under the influence. Drunk driving is also a prevalent problem, not just during the holidays but all year round.
Additionally, drunk driving not only endangers other motorists, pedestrians, and vehicles; it can also cause severe health consequences to the intoxicated driver, such as paralysis and brain injury.
- Road rage
Before, car collisions and hit-and-run accidents were the only things you needed to worry about on the road. But lately, road rage accidents have been on a steady incline, especially with the stress and increased traffic during the holidays.
When aggressiveness and anger take over, drivers usually initiate reckless road behaviors, such as speeding, swerving, or rear-ending another car. Sometimes, road ragers may also resort to physical confrontations.
To ensure an accident-free holiday, make sure to follow these tips to avoid road rage accidents:
- Do not engage with road ragers. If you can, distance yourself from angry drivers to avoid a confrontation.
- You can call police authorities or drive towards the nearest station if you ever encounter an aggressive driver.
- Driving is a stressful feat that may trigger aggressiveness or anger. If you don’t have a good grip on your emotions, then don’t get behind the wheel.
- Plan ahead to avoid the holiday traffic and stress.
- Distracted driving accidents
Distracted driving refers to the act of driving while being occupied by another activity, which takes away the driver’s attention from the road. Distractions while driving can come in many forms一sending a text message, overly loud music, and active conversation with other passengers.
According to the CDC, nine fatalities are reported every day due to car accidents caused by distracted driving. Unfortunately, this number may go up during the holidays since most people are distracted by the stress and hassle of the Christmas season.
Here are some ways how you can prevent distracted driving accidents during the holiday rush:
- Get plenty of sleep or rest before going behind the wheel.
- Avoid eating or drinking.
- Limit the number of passengers and let them know that they should keep noise to a minimum during the travel.
- Do not use your phone. Reserve it for emergency use.
- Limit activity in the car even if only the passengers are participating in it.
- Make sure to have someone who knows how to drive that can take over in emergencies or during long travel hours.
Of course, no matter how careful you may be on the road, you cannot control other people’s actions. Read on below to learn the important steps you should take if you ever get into an accident.
What to do after a holiday injury or accident?
After an accident, every action you take is going to be crucial and may affect the claim that you’ll be filing in the future. So it’s essential to follow these tips:
- Seek emergency or medical care right away, even if you don’t think you have sustained any injuries.
- Call the authorities and provide important information regarding the accident.
- Document everything about the accident. Get the at-fault driver’s name, insurance details, contact number, and the make and model of their vehicle. You should also take pictures of the scene, especially the damages your car sustained.
- Contact a car accident attorney with a no win no fee policy to help with your case.
Where to find a car accident lawyer in the Broward County area?
Don’t let your holiday get ruined by a negligent driver or their insurance company. Seek the help of the competent lawyers at Ask My Attorneys to protect your legal rights.
Atty. Rafael Gonzalez is one of the best Plantation car accident lawyer and personal injury attorney. He will help you get the compensation you deserve to recover your medical bill expenses, car repair, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional distress.
Besides car accidents and collisions, Atty Gonzalez also specializes in other practice areas, such as:
And many more!
Looking for a Spanish speaking car accident lawyer? Look no further! Our team speaks in both Spanish and English. You can now rest easy knowing that you’ll get the proper legal representation that you deserve.
Call us now at 954-961-5100 or contact us for a free consultation and get more information about your legal situation.
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