Millions of people across the country are preparing to get on the road during the Thanksgiving weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this is an extremely risky time for people to be on the road because of the volume of vehicles and dangerous driving habits. A vast majority of the car accidents that occur during the Thanksgiving holiday are preventable and happen as a result of negligence on the part of motorists.
The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Eve is associated with drinking, and is a big night for bars. From 2012 to 2016, NHTSA estimates that more than 800 people died in alcohol-impaired car accidents during he Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ends at 5:59 a.m. Monday). This makes it the deadliest holiday on our roads. In 2017, 564 crashes were reported from Wednesday to Monday of Thanksgiving week. Fifteen people died, and another 907 were injured according to the Highway Safety Research Group.
Five Tips to Stay Safe on Thanksgiving
Here are some suggestions that we hope will help you stay safe as you head home to meet family and friends this Thanksgiving:
1. Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol-impaired collisions are among the most common not just during the Thanksgiving weekend, but also the holiday season through Christmas and New Year. Those who have been drinking should designate a driver to take them home or make alternative arrangements such as staying over for the night. If you spot someone driving erratically on the roadway, please report the driver to the authorities.
2. Don’t drive distracted. Put away all cell phones and electronics when you get on the road. Avoid other distractions such as eating, drinking, fiddling with the radio or GPS device or even talking to passengers. Any activity that causes you to take your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or attention away from the act of driving may be distracting and result in a collision.
3. Don’t drive when you are fatigued. Drowsy or fatigued driving is often underreported as a factor that leads to car accidents. Avoid driving at nighttime if possible. If you must drive at night, have someone take turns with you to drive. Get sufficient sleep before you get on the road. NHTSA estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. However, these numbers are underestimated, and up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy drivers.
4. Check your speed. Make sure that you are sticking to the speed limit. If you encounter bad weather such as rain, snow or sleet, slow down and use extreme caution. Leave adequate space between you and the vehicle in front so you have sufficient time to stop or slow down if necessary.
5. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition. If you plan to drive several hundred miles, it may be worth your time to have your car inspected by your local mechanic. Items to inspect include your tires, brakes, car battery, and windshield wipers. Making sure your car is in good working order can prevent an unexpected break down and make your trip more enjoyable as well.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com