During the summer months, travel on America’s highways and in the skies
increases substantially. Because there are so many vehicles on the road, the
number of accidents also increase. When motor vehicle accidents happen, people
on vacation and those commuting to work, driving home or making their way to
recreational options all experience headaches.
When a car accident occurs in the summer, the experience of a personal injury lawyer can help get you back on the road to recovery from injuries and
property damage.
Teen Drivers Are Often Involved
Because school is not in session, teen drivers spend more
time enjoying themselves on the road. Due to inexperience, immaturity inherent
in their age, peer pressure and lack of knowledge in driving, teen auto accidents
frequently occur in the summer, when teens are supposed to enjoy a carefree
life.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has
indicated August is the most dangerous month for any driving in the United
States. Loss of vehicle control leads to serious collisions, such as head-on
accidents with other drivers and passengers in their vehicles. Extensive
property damage can occur when a driver loses control of his or her vehicle and
collides with objects.
Teen Accidents Lead to Serious Injuries and Property Damage
Teens in these types of summer accidents may be able to
leave the accident scene with only minor injuries like contusions and
abrasions. But severe injuries may be inflicted on others, including other
drivers and pedestrians. A broad range of injuries are often suffered by
passers-by and others on the roads when such accidents occur. Some of the most
commonly experienced injuries include:
- Concussions
- Lacerations
- Fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
Other vehicles may also be heavily damaged in teen driving
accidents, causing substantially increased insurance deductibles. These summer
auto accidents cost taxpayers billions of dollars for accident management,
damage repair and cleanup.
Since drivers under the age of twenty are as much as three
times more likely to experience an auto accident, it is critical that these
young people on the roads follow all safety rules when behind the wheel. Youthful drivers between 15 and 20 years of
age are also responsible for more auto accident deaths than any other age
group. Inexperience is often to blame
for unskilled driver collisions, particularly in regard to distracted driving accidents that often cause serious injury to passengers, other drivers and
pedestrians.
When people are injured in teen driver accidents, the skill
and knowledge of a personal injury lawyer becomes necessary for injured parties
to gain compensation for their injuries and other damages.
Distracted Driving Increases in Summer Months
Many states report accidents that lead to millions in
property damages each summer season. Some states have developed and implemented
programs designed to reduce accidents and resulting injuries of summertime
driving.
Avoiding distracted driving is a sure way to significantly
reduce fair weather auto accidents. Teen drivers are easily
distracted when behind the wheel, with their newfound freedom of driving while
using cell phones and other electronic devices. Other teens in their vehicles
often cause distraction. Recent reports indicate that more than one tenth of
all drivers involved in accidents leading to fatalities were distracted behind
the wheel, when the accident occurred.
Texting is many times to blame for many of these crashes.
Emailing, texting and other such smartphone activities should never be
performed while driving because collision so often results. These accidents are
particularly prone to causing injuries and heavy property damage to other
drivers, vehicles and innocent bystanders.
Injuries Can Be Reduced through Safe Driving
Practicing safe driving is a sure way to decrease the
frequency of traffic accidents any time of year, but particularly during the
summer when good weather and positive driving conditions are more common.
Drivers need to remember to slow their speed and not drive when stressed.
Traffic delays and other issues affecting travel time should be expected during
vacation months of June, July and August. During these times it is important to
remain aware of surroundings and behaviors of other drivers on the roads.
Remembering to wear a seatbelt while driving is a simple way to decrease
seriousness and even the likelihood of injuries during an auto accident. Paying
attention on the road is critical. Even skilled drivers can be involved in an
accident during the best driving conditions of summer. By remaining alert and
aware when driving, reaction time is reduced and reflexes can be used to
personal advantage to avoid injury or harm to others.
Law Enforcement in Summer Months
As during holidays throughout the year, law enforcement
officers are often more alert and present in large numbers during summer
months. More officers can be seen patrolling streets because of the tendency
for teen driving accidents and vacation related traffic during these temperate weeks.
Traffic checkpoints are often enacted to check driver’s
licenses, sobriety and seatbelt usage while also enabling patrol officers to
keep their eyes open for illegal activities on roadways and in traffic. As part
of these routine stops, officers look for expired registration and any unlawful
activities. It is particularly important for them to catch drunk drivers in
order to ensure the safety of others on the road at the same time.
Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day
Summer holidays mean relaxation and fun in the sun. The
American Automobile Association has reported that the number of drivers
traveling over Memorial Day weekend in 2016 exceeded the number of travelers on
those three days for the prior ten years. This is because gas prices were lower than
they were during recessions of previous summers, allowing more people to get on
the road and travel extended distances to locations out of their own state.
Holiday travel, reunions with family and friends and commuting all contributed
to more drivers being on the road in 2016.
The improved economy also resulted in more teens getting
their licenses and being allowed to drive their loved ones. More than 33
million U.S. residents drove over 50 miles during Memorial Day weekend alone in
2016. Over half of the deaths occurring due to auto accidents in America have
historically occurred from April to the final days of summer in September.
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