Did you know? 40,231 people died in car accidents in 2017, reports the III, and many of those accidents could have been avoided. Many of the instances when drivers are least likely to practice safe roadway habits correspond to the times with the highest chances of serious car accidents!
Want to lower your risk of a serious car accident? Keep reading. Knowing when a car accident is most likely to happen can help you exercise extra caution when driving or even help you strategize when to avoid driving.
#1: Rush Hour – We all know the feeling of getting out of work and just wanting to get home as quickly as possible. But not so fast! According to BacTrack, most accidents occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.
#2: At Night – Esurance reports that 31 percent of fatal accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight in 2013.
#3: Holidays – BacTrack named the Fourth of July as the deadliest holiday for car accident fatalities. The fun nature of holidays can make us want to throw worries to the wind. Other holidays notorious for fatalities caused by cars (for drivers, passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians) include Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Black Wednesday. The period between Thanksgiving week and New Year’s Day is cited by many authorities as the most dangerous time of the year for car accident related injuries and fatalities, due to both impaired driving and increased travel.
#4: Summer Break – the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest days for teen drivers.
How Can You Lower Your Risk of a Serious Car Accident?
While you might not be able to avoid driving during some of these time frames – especially when commuting to and from work – you can practice increased alertness and awareness during these dangerous times and avoid the roads when possible.
Even if you need to drive during peak accident hours, you can still decrease your chances of being injured on the road. Commit to not driving when you are:
- Impaired/Under the Influence – Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes—that’s one person every 48 minutes in 2017, says NHTSA.
- Distracted – According to NHTSA, distracted driving such as texting, eating, or changing the radio accounted for 3,450 deaths in 2016 alone.
- Drowsy – The CDC reports that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013.
- Without a Seatbelt – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that a common reason drivers give for skipping on seat belts is that they’re only going a short distance. But short distances don’t at all erase the probability of an accident, and injuries and chance of death are significantly increased when seat belts aren’t worn.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident in the Boca Raton, FL area, it’s time to find out what compensation you are entitled to under law. We’re here to help you get the justice you deserve by proving your innocence. Call (561) 508-8800 or contact us online.
