The summer is finally here again! Barbecues, pools and summer road trips are in everyone’s mind. However, the constant trips to the theme parks and the road trips make you vulnerable to the summertime driving hazards that may not be so obvious. Auto accidents become more common with the holidays, vacations, teen drivers, and higher temperatures. Taking safety measures can help you avoid a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian on the road. Below we summarized these hazards and how to make adjustments to your driving to protect yourself and your family. These are tips from a Tucson, AZ car accident lawyer who has seen hundreds of injured victims through the hot summer days.
Holidays and Summer Vacations
The first item on the list is the fact that our summers have two big holidays when the rates of DUIs are exceedingly high: Memorial Day and Independence Day. The police department has responded by employing DUI squads during these two holidays. Hundreds of DUI citations are given during each of these two holidays in most U.S. cities. This does not only lead to criminal consequences for those drivers, but also to driving hazards for those on the road who may be struck by a drunk driver.
A good car accident lawyer will advise you that you can pursue general and special damages, and punitive damages. You may also request restitution from the victim services of the County or the City prosecutor’s office that will be prosecuting the drunk driver. The amount of drunk drivers during the summers can cause serious changes to some car accident victims. Victims of DUI drivers can lose limbs or may even lose the ability to walk. You can make a commitment not to drive if you have consumed alcohol, or you can simply get a designated driver.
Other collisions simply occur because there are too many drivers on the road during the summer. If you are involved in a collision, you should contact a car accident lawyer of the Lara Law Firm to pursue damages. The summers can present congested roads, drivers who use emergency lanes for travel, and red light runners. Popular destinations can also have an excessive amount of traffic and the increase of vehicles will naturally increase the amount of accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports more fatal accidents during the summers than any other time of the year. These conditions should not be ignored as they destroy families’ lives. Fatalities on the road leave children without their parents and entire communities damaged for the loss of a member of our society.
Teenage Drivers on the Road
A car accident lawyer will advise you that another danger commonly found on the roads during the summers is the increased use of vehicles by teens. Teens cause more deaths and more teens die on the roads in increased proportions during the summer. Teens use their cell phone more often and commit more violations than any other age group. Teens also cause more accidents than any other age group during the late hours of the day.
Thanks to our friend and blog author, Adolfo Lara of Lara Law Firm, for his insight into summertime driving hazards.