AAA predicts that more than one-third of Americans will be on the roads, in the air, or on the rails this holiday season, with peak travel days from December 22, 2018 through New Years’ Day. The last thing anyone wants to spend the holidays and end 2018 with is an accident.
Make Safe Driving Your Priority
The number of cars expected on the road this holiday season is forecasted to be 4.4 percent higher than 2017. Drivers should be especially attuned to the posted speed limits on highways, city streets and residential roads. One of the most commonly cited causes of accidents is aggressive driving, which includes speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, as well as following too closely behind the vehicle ahead.
Attending holiday parties with coworkers, family or friends? Here’s a sobering thought: drunk driving is responsible for almost 800 lost lives in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Even more sobering, an average of 300 people have died in drunk driving crashes between the Christmas and New Years’ holidays. Take the time to plan ahead and arrange to carpool, take a taxi or schedule a Lyft or Uber to get you home safely. Even if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is below what is legally considered intoxicated, your judgement, focus and reaction time are compromised even when buzzed. The point is, if you’re going to drink, don’t drive.
In addition to aggressive driving and driving under the influence, the largest cause of accidents on the road is from distracted driving. Although it’s almost impossible to limit driver distractions, you can set some ground rules for your passengers and yourself.
Make sure everyone is buckled up before even turning on the ignition. Teach young children to stay in their seats and keep their seatbelts fastened until you reach your destination.
If you’re hungry, find a rest stop or restaurant you can eat at instead of taking your meal in the car. It’s far easier and less messy to eat and enjoy your meal with two hands versus one on the wheel and the other in a box of fries.
Take periodic breaks every 45-100 miles to stretch your legs, use the restroom and give your eyes a break from the monotony of long drives.
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Steps to Take If You’re in an Accident
If you find yourself the victim of a car accident this holiday season, not all joy is lost.
The first thing you should do is check on the safety of your passengers and call 911. If you or anyone else is in need of medical attention, EMS will be on the scene as the police record details of the accident. Even if you or someone else does not feel pain immediately following an accident, it’s best to get checked out by medical professionals, not only so that you have documentation that may be needed later, but so that any injuries, such as head trauma or internal bodily damage can be properly assessed and swiftly treated.
Record the details of the accident scene. Take clear photos of your car, the other driver’s vehicle and the surrounding area. Get the name and insurance information of the driver and collect the names of any passengers and witnesses. The SKG Accident App has a built-in accident detection, notepad and photo storage so you can stay organized and collect all the information at the time of the accident.
Finally, call the Law Offices of SKG. The car accident attorneys at SKG have handled thousands of car accident cases around Florida. In most cases, the car accident lawyers at SKG have helped recover compensation for injuries, medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Call the Law Offices of SKG at (888) SKG-HELP or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
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