The holiday travel season is upon us. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and other cultural celebrations on the horizon, traffic volume is set to increase significantly, and with it accident injuries and death. The sad reality is that car wrecks and accident injuries and fatalities spike during the holidays, leaving families reeling from the harm caused to them. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that more than 500 people will be killed in accidents during the long Thanksgiving weekend alone, with another 345 deaths estimated from December 22nd through December 25th.
Even those who are fortunate enough to survive one of these holiday accidents can face a tremendous uphill battle to reclaim their health and their normal life. Their accident injuries can leave them with excruciating pain, limited physical mobility, emotional and psychological turmoil and financial strain. Figuring out how to get by in the aftermath of a holiday accident can therefore be challenging, to say the least.
\You might feel like safety is somewhat out of your hands during the holiday season when you’re caught in the middle of extensive traffic. While that may be true to a certain extent, there’s a lot that you can do to protect yourself out on the road. This includes doing the following:
- Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained: There are several parts of your vehicle that wear down over time, and on a wintry road is the worst place to find that out. So, before setting out for holiday travel, be sure to check your tires, your windshield wipers, your fluids, your lights and your brakes. Being diligent here will ensure that your car is capable of keeping you safe.
- Get plenty of rest: Tiredness can reduce your attention and increase your reaction time. It can also reduce your ability to multi-task, which can lead to a whole host of problems while out on the road. So, make sure you’re as rested as possible before heading out for your holiday travel.
- Avoid distractions: It’s easy to get distracted on a long road trip. But do your best to avoid looking at your phone and glaring at things on the roadside that take your eyes off the road and the traffic in front of you. This will ensure that you remain attentive and can take corrective action when needed to avoid a serious car accident.
- Be defensive: The best way to stay safe out on the road is to be a defensive driver.
Anticipate that other motorists will act in unexpected and erratic ways, give yourself plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you and follow the speed limit. It’s also helpful to give yourself an out when you’re surrounded by other vehicles so that you maneuver to safety if another driver moves in a way that puts you in danger.
What should you do if you’re injured in a holiday accident?
If you’re injured in a wreck, then you should consider taking legal action to protect your interests. If you’re successful on one of these claims, then you could recover compensation to help offset your medical expenses and lost wages, as well as to cover any anticipated accident-related costs. A winning personal injury case can also compensate you for your pain and suffering and lost enjoyment of life. So, there’s a lot to gain from taking legal action.
Of course, succeeding on a car accident personal injury claim isn’t always as easy as it may seem. You’ll need strong evidence and a compelling legal strategy. But with a little bit of hard work and diligence, you might be able to position yourself for the fair and just outcome that you deserve.