The holiday season marks a time of year that is generally filled with merriment, loving gatherings, reciprocal gift-giving, and other joyous hallmark experiences. Many see the holidays as a time to step back from their weekly workload and day-to-day hustle-and-bustle, allowing for an opportunity to unplug, relax, and unwind. While it is important to indulge in taking time for oneself and welcome the opportunity to mentally check-out from the chaos of everyday life during the holiday season, it is also a time to be on high-alert when driving. 

The Numbers Don’t Lie 

Although the numbers fluctuate from year to year, on average, 343 people die in traffic accidents each year, over the three-day time span of Christmas and an average of 373 people die each year over the three-day time span of the New Year Holiday, according to the National Safety Council. In the U.S., the CDC reports that fatal car accidents are 27.61% more likely to occur during these holidays. Evidently, it becomes more hazardous to drive during the holidays, and it is important to know the risks. 

Knowing the Risks

There are many reasons as to why there are so many fatal and non-fatal car accidents during the holidays, and while some may be unpreventable, it is still a driver’s responsibility to be conscious of these potential causes of accidents in order to reduce the risk of getting into a car accident. During the holidays, potential causes include: 

• Drunk driving 
• Hazardous weather conditions
• Rushed/distracted driving
  

Drunk Driving

An astounding 40 percent of the fatal car accidents that occur during the holiday season involve at least one driver that is under the influence of alcohol, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. According to Alcohol Monitoring Systems, DUI offences increase by 48% over Christmas Eve and Christmas, and subsequently increase by 106% over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 

It makes sense that along with more celebrating, comes more propensity to drink and drive, sadly. When driving with alcohol in your system (even from only having two drinks), your vision will be impaired and your wakefulness will be diminished. All of these factors affect your reaction time — your ability to readily respond to unforeseen incidents while driving. Drinking and driving considerably reduces the speed and agility by which drivers are able to react to unforeseen events. 

We at Accident.com encourage you to never drive under the influence of alcohol and to always practice cautious, defensive driving behaviors, in order to be on high alert for those many reckless drivers that will be on the road especially during the holidays. If you are sharing the road with a drunk driver, common types of accidents that can occur include:

• Head-on collisions 
• Rear-end collisions
• Wrong-way wrecks

If you are the victim of a drunk driving accident, common types of injuries that can occur include: 

• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Back and spinal injuries
• Skin injuries
• Psychological injuries

If you have been a victim to a drunk driving accident and are wondering how you can seek legal recourse (and monetary compensation for your injuries), you can always schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney from Accident.com, and they will promptly assist you with the specifics of your injury claim. 

Weather Conditions 

The Federal Highway Administration reports that 24% of all weather-related car accidents are caused by snow, slush, and ice, and that 116,800 people are injured each year in accidents caused by winter weather conditions. Clearly, these winter weather conditions are bound to increase the possibility of getting into a car accident during the holiday season. With the precipitation of snow, visibility within a vehicle is reduced, the roads are much more slippery, wind speeds are higher, ice forms, and the streets become fractured from the temperature being so cold. All of which make it much harder to have complete control over your vehicle while driving in the winter. Be extra cautious of these dangers while driving. 

Were you hit by a speeding driver during a snowstorm? Are you wondering if the other driver is still equally liable? Are you wondering if you can sue? If you or your vehicle were harmed by a reckless driver during hazardous weather conditions and are wondering if you can sue, schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney from Accident.com, and they will assist you with the specifics of your injury claim and answer any questions you might have. 

Rushed/Distracted Drivers

The CDC holds that rushed and/or distracted drivers significantly contribute to the amount of car accidents that occur during the holiday season. There are so many errands and tasks that people become overwhelmingly bombarded with during the holiday season. Whether it be running around to different stores to find the perfect presents for your loved ones, scurrying back-and-forth from the supermarket to gather cooking ingredients, or scrambling to find just one store that hasn’t run out of decorations, it is safe to say that drivers are generally in more of a rush during the holiday season. This can cause drivers to drive more hurriedly and aggressively, and faster speeds increase the likelihood of car accidents, as reported on by the CDC. Thus, it is important to beware of these many rushed drivers during the holiday season. 

Some hurried or aggressive drivers will engage in tailgating, which is when a driver drives behind another vehicle without leaving sufficient distance to stop without causing a collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly. Tailgating can easily cause a rear-end collision to occur, and can result in serious physical injuries. If you or your vehicle were harmed due to an accident that was caused by the actions of a rushed and/or reckless driver, schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney from Accident.com, and they will promptly assist you with the specifics of your injury claim.

Here to Help

If you have been injured or your vehicle has been damaged due to an accident caused by the actions of a drunk, reckless, or aggressive driver during this holiday season, you should talk to a lawyer. A lawyer can help you decide whether you are eligible to receive substantial car injury compensation. You can always find the right lawyer at Accident.com.