September 19, 2022
There is a popular misconception that it is often safer to drive on the holidays because fewer individuals are commuting to or from work. While the roads are often less congested on the holidays, it is an unfortunate reality that it is generally much more dangerous to drive during the holidays than it is on an average work day. With that said, as recent trends on Florida roads illustrate, the time of day during which you drive on the holidays may either escalate or mitigate your risk of being involved in an accident during what is supposed to be a joyous or relaxing time.
Labor Day Example
Over the Labor Day weekend, many Floridians take time to celebrate the end of summer and to mark the start of another school year. Many teenagers are in celebration mode as they achieve milestones such as starting college or starting their senior year of high school. When joyous emotions run high and social gatherings occur at a much more frequent rate than they normally do, people tend to overindulge, people tend to get distracted, and people tend to get in accidents.
One would assume, with so much alcohol being imbibed and so many social gatherings occurring over the long weekend, that the most dangerous times to take to the road over Labor Day would be Friday night, Saturday night, and in the very early morning hours of both Saturday and Sunday. However, this assumption would be incorrect. According to AAA, the most dangerous times to travel over Labor Day weekend are actually Thursday and Friday afternoons. This is, presumably, because traffic will be at its worst and people who are planning for the weekend ahead will be at their most distracted.
Other Holidays
Although Labor Day weekend is the deadliest holiday weekend for road travel, other holidays remain very dangerous too. In Florida, New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, and any holiday that occurs during hurricane season tends to be particularly dangerous. Researching conditions before you leave the house can help you to return there safely once your travels are complete.
Seeking Legal Support
It is important for injury victims to understand that they aren’t alone. Suffering injuries as a result of another’s negligence, recklessness, or intentionally dangerous behavior is always a potentially devastating situation. But suffering this experience at the holidays can be an especially emotional undertaking. You don’t have to shoulder the legal, financial, and insurance-related challenges associated with a crash by yourself. Working with a skilled attorney will allow you the personalized support and guidance you need for your case to be as successful as it can possibly be.
If you have recently been injured as a result of a holiday-related auto accident, know that the experienced Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer team at Tuttle Larsen, P.A. is here to help. We have extensive experience representing the interests of Florida car accident injury victims and we can work diligently on your behalf to secure any and all compensation to which you may be entitled.