As the holiday season approaches, millions of Americans take to the roads to visit family, shop for gifts, and attend parties. While the holidays can be joyous, they also mark one of the most dangerous times of the year for drivers. Increased traffic, more impaired drivers, stress and fatigue from busyness combine to create a “perfect storm” for serious vehicle accidents while holiday driving. Check out the following tips to help you avoid road dangers during the season and, if you should be involved in an accident, safeguard your rights.
How To Deal With The Holiday Traffic Surge
- Plan your route ahead, especially if traveling to an unfamiliar location, and drive at off-peak times. That way you can minimize your stress and maximize your ability to focus.
- Also, make sure that you keep basic emergency equipment in your vehicle such as jumper cables, breakdown warning triangles or LED lights, and a first aid kit. Hopefully, you will never need to use them but have them just in case.
- Check the weather before you travel. Living in North Louisiana in wintertime often means dramatic weather changes over just a 24-hour period.
Who To Watch Out For When Holiday Driving
It is not just road conditions that you want to look out for when driving, but it is the people behind the wheel of other vehicles. This time of year, people’s patience can be stretched thin, easily leading to aggressive driving behavior and in some cases road rage. Also, you may encounter more individuals who have been drinking before they got behind the wheel.
- If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage with them or match their energy. Create distance between you and that vehicle if possible and call the police if you feel that you are in danger.
- Keep your eye out for vehicles that are swerving in and out of the lane, speeding up and slowing down erratically. As with aggressive drivers, try to put distance between you and them even if that means pulling over in a parking lot until they have passed by. You may also wish to alert the police to their presence on the road so that can try to stop them before they seriously injure or kill someone.
What To Do If You Do Get In An Accident During The Holiday Season
If despite your best efforts to avoid it, you get in an accident this holiday season, be sure to do the following:
- If you believe that you or others may be injured, call 911 right away.
- Only if in condition to do so, move your vehicle out of traffic.
- Contact the police or sheriff’s department to report the accident.
- If able, get contact information from the other driver(s) and at a safe distance take photos of the accident scene and vehicle damage.
- Make a call to your insurance company to let them know that you have been in a car accident. Insurance may ask, but you are not required to make a detailed, recorded statement about the wreck at that time if you would like to consult an attorney first.
- Contact your preferred personal injury lawyer and keep all your documents and other records safe to give a copy of to your attorney.
At The Law Firm of Eddie Clark & Associates, we wish you best during the holiday season. We hope that your holidays are all happiness and no heartbreak. Should you need us though related to a holiday driving vehicle accident, simply reach out.
