Happening Now: The Most Dangerous Time of Year for Car Accidents

Motorists currently face the most dangerous time of year for car accidents. According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the period beginning with Memorial Day weekend and ending with Labor Day weekend has the year’s highest rates of traffic fatalities. Because the weather is nicer during these months, more drivers are on the road, which increases the risk of reckless and dangerous driving behaviors.

The Most Dangerous Months for Car Accidents
Statistics compiled by the National Safety Council (NSC) show that the summer and early fall months have the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the United States. In one recent year, the months with the highest traffic accident fatalities nationwide were as follows:

October – 4,101 deaths
August – 4,013 deaths
July – 3,879 deaths
September – 3,861 deaths
June – 3,789 deaths
May – 3,768 deaths
Noticeably fewer traffic fatalities occurred during other months. May through October have the highest rates of traffic deaths due to holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween.

The Most Dangerous Holidays for Car Wrecks
Many people travel out of town or go out to celebrate holidays. More people on the road increase the risk of car accidents. According to estimated fatality rates by the NSC, the most dangerous holidays for car accidents include:

Independence Day
Thanksgiving
Memorial Day
Labor Day
New Year’s Eve and Day
Christmas Eve and Day
Three of the top four deadliest holidays occur during the summer season. These holidays often involve people traveling for vacation, visiting loved ones, or going to parties where people consume alcohol. DUI arrests also increase during holidays.

Other holidays with elevated accident rates include Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween. Many people celebrate these holidays by going to dinner or parties, while pedestrian traffic increases on Halloween due to children trick-or-treating.

What to Do If You’re in an Accident
If you get into an accident this summer due to someone else’s negligence, you can take the following steps to protect your rights:

Contact law enforcement to report the accident.
Seek prompt medical attention to diagnose any injuries you’ve suffered.
Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and medical restrictions.
Obtain copies of the police accident report and your medical records.
Keep bills, invoices, and receipts of expenses, and gather copies of your pay stubs or income records if you need to take time off work while recovering from accident injuries.
Contact our Utah accident lawyers as soon as possible to get legal help pursuing maximum compensation from the at-fault drivers and their insurance companies in a car accident claim.
Injured? Swenson & Shelley Is Here to Help – Contact Us Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness, you deserve to pursue compensation and accountability for your losses. Contact the law firm of Swenson & Shelley today for a free no-obligation consultation with our injury attorneys. Our Utah car accident lawyers are ready to review your case and explain your legal options.

Author: Swenson & Shelley PLLC

Kevin Swenson was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and is a co-founding partner of Swenson & Shelley. After graduating from Bountiful High School, Kevin attended business school at Westminster College.