Car accidents happen, and they seem to always happen when we least expect them. Statistics, however, relay that fatal car accidents are more closely associated with summer months and with certain holidays. As summer approaches, now is a good time to take a closer look at the numbers and to make plans to help you stay safe out there.
Texas Fatal Accident Statistics
Car accidents can be especially severe accidents that are often deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shares that there were 3,642 traffic fatalities in the State of Texas in 2018. Even though this number reflects a 2 percent decrease over the prior year, it is considerably higher than that of any other state. Further, Texas also saw more traffic fatalities than any state other than California in 2017.
When Accidents Are Most Likely to Occur
Statistics that examine when traffic fatalities are most likely to occur look at factors that are considered temporal factors because they relate to things such as:
- The time of day that the accidents occur
- The day of the week that the accidents occur
- The time of the year that the accidents occur
In addition, statistics look at whether these fatal accidents correlate with a specific event or holiday.
Holidays and Fatal Traffic Accidents
NHTSA further shares that the four days most closely associated with deadly accidents include the following:
- July 3
- July 4
- December 23
- December 24
In other words, our roadways are at their most dangerous around these two holidays, which are closely associated with increased traffic and increased consumption of alcohol.
Dangerous Driving in Summer Months
The National Institute of Health (NIH) sheds some light on just how dangerous driving in the summer months can be. It reports that most fatal car accidents happen in July and August, that the deadliest days of the week are the weekends, and that from 3 PM to 7 PM are the most dangerous times of day to be on the roads.
Accidents
Severe – even deadly – accidents happen, but staying off the roads when they are most likely to happen is not a great safety plan. Always driving defensively, paying strict attention to your primary task of driving safely, and following all the rules of the road amount to the best way to help keep yourself and your family safe on our highways and byways – regardless of the time of year. With the summer months nearly upon us, however, now is a good time to redouble our driving-safety efforts.
Injured in a Car Accident? An Experienced Attorney Can Help
Brett Pritchard is a formidable personal injury attorney with extensive experience helping clients like you obtain the compensation necessary to reach their fullest recoveries after being injured in accidents caused by other motorists’ negligence. At The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, our dedicated legal team will leave no stone unturned in its quest to help you move forward post-accident. If you have questions, we have answers – so please do not hesitate to contact or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.