Most drivers understand that there are certain times of the year when the roadways are busier and the odds of an accident are increased. For instance, approximately 400 people die each year during Memorial Day weekend and the accident rate is 13.1 percent higher when compared to a non-holiday weekend. Research indicates that more than 40 percent of accidents during this time period are alcohol-related.
New Year’s Day is another holiday when the number of alcohol-related accidents is higher than average. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Jan. 1 is the day with the highest percentage of deaths due to alcohol-related accidents. On average, 60 to 70 million people will be on the road on Black Friday. There are twice as many insurance claims made on this day after Thanksgiving while the number of parking lot claims increases by 36 percent.
Drivers may also want to be careful when driving near an NFL stadium on game day. If the home team loses, the number of claims made near the stadium can be as much as 9.4 percent higher than average due to aggressive driving by the team’s fans. If the home team wins, the number of claims increases by an average of 3.2 percent.
Those who have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. Compensation may come in the form of reimbursement for medical bills or for lost wages due to neck, back or other injuries. Anyone wishing to take legal action may wish to talk to a personal injury attorney in order to determine how to proceed.