Motorcycle and Other Traffic Accidents Injuries and Fatalities Increase Over Holiday Weekends
When someone has been involved in a vehicle accident, it’s important to contact an auto accident attorney as soon as possible. If an injury has occurred due to the accident, then obtaining the counsel of an auto accident attorney and a personal injury lawyer is usually advised. A car accident attorney can review police reports, interview witnesses, and engage in other activities to assist their clients with these cases.
Motorcycle Accident Overview for 2013
In 2013, there were approximately 8.4 million motorcycles on America’s highways, roads, and streets. During this year, 88,000 motorcyclists sustained injuries. This was less than in 2012, when 93,000 motorcyclists were injured.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 4,668 deaths that occurred due to motorcycle crashes. This was less than the previous year, when 4,986 fatalities occurred due to motorcycle accidents.
When accidents involving passenger cars and motorcyclists occurred, motorcyclists were also 5 times more likely to be injured and roughly 26 times more likely to die than the car occupants.
Summer Holidays and Increased Traffic Accidents
Since more people travel during the summer, and there is also an increase in alcohol-impaired drivers, the NHTSA states more auto-accident fatalities occur during this time period than the remainder of the year combined. Independence Day weekend and Labor Day weekend are also specific time periods when there are more accident fatalities.
During the average Independence Day weekend, for example, there tend to be 400 accident fatalities. While July 4 is considered to be “the deadliest day of the year,” July 3 is the second deadliest. Drivers with blood-alcohol limits over .08 cause an average of 41% of these accident fatalities.
Labor Day weekend typically has 389 fatal accidents. When compared to weekends that aren’t holiday-oriented, there is a 10% increase in traffic-based deaths. Drivers with blood-alcohol limits exceeding .08 cause an average of 38% of these fatal accidents.
The Importance of Seeking Counsel
Have you been in a motor vehicle accident? If so, you are probably searching for a car accident lawyer to provide you with advice and counsel. When you’ve been injured in a traffic accident, or someone has died as a result of this accident, your car accident lawyer will be able to inform you of your rights and responsibilities.
Whether you consult with a car accident lawyer, a personal injury attorney, or both, they will explain how your case will be handled, which includes whether or not it will go to court. In the United States, just 4% to 5% of personal injury cases actually go to trial. This is because 95% to 96% are usually settled out of court or pretrial.
