Now that May is officially here, it’s time to get serious about summer safety. That’s because we are ramping up for Memorial Day, which bookends the beginning of summer and its 100 dangerous days.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has earned that moniker because of the increase in highway accident deaths during that period. So, why the uptick?
Teens at higher risk of collision fatalities
All across the nation, over 30% of the annual total of teen deaths in auto accidents occur during the late spring and summer months. Young drivers have higher incidences of accidents that can injure, maim or kill them or others with whom they collide.
In fact, the AAA spokesperson said that “… teens will spend more time on the road, often driving with friends at odd hours of the day and night. Because of their inexperience, teens are more susceptible to dangerous driving behaviors.”
Which driving behaviors are risky?
Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your mind off the task of piloting your vehicle down the road. They can include:
- Texting and driving
- Speeding
- Chatting with passengers
- Dealing with unruly children in the backseat
Those are not the only distractions for motorists, but they are some of the most common.
It’s not just teens
Anyone can get into an accident with an at-fault motorist. All it takes is being in the wrong place when someone else’s negligence causes their cars to collide. If you are the injured victim of a summer auto accident, you have the right to file a claim for damages. The financial relief you may recover in a settlement or judgment can go a long way to making you whole again.