Why auto wrecks typically spike in summer
Summer is upon us, bringing warmer weather, the opportunity for more outdoor activities and – for regular commuters – an elevated risk of auto accidents.
In fact, although it may seem like the risk of traffic collisions goes up in winter when the weather tends to be more adverse (especially considering the conditions associated with Ohio winters), summer is linked to a higher risk of car accidents. Just some of primary reasons for this include that, during the summertime:
- There’s a sharp increase the number of travelers hitting the roads – In addition to more drivers on the roads, there also tends to be far more motorcycle riders, bicycle riders, and pedestrians sharing the roads with motorists. More densely packed roads naturally translates into a more complicated driving environment. And that can end up meaning that even the slightest mistakes or lapses in attention can result in serious crashes.
- Teen motorists are on the roads for longer periods of time – Teen drivers, who tend to be the least experienced motorists on the roads, typically spend about 40 percent more time driving during the summer (than during any other season of the year). With more inexperienced drivers on the roads for longer periods of time, the risk of car accidents jumps up dramatically – especially if teens are driving with even one other teen passenger.1
- Impaired driving tends to spike – During the summertime, deadly drunk driving accidents in the U.S. typically double, with August being the single month (during the entire year) that consistently sees the highest rate of fatal impaired driving crashes in the U.S.2
- Highway/roadway construction activities increase – Given that summer tends to usher in favorable weather conditions, it tends to be the time when highway/roadway construction activities get underway. These projects often complicate driving and roadway conditions with lane closures, detours, etc. And more complicated driving conditions can mean greater chances that drivers (especially those who aren’t sober, focused, and/or experienced) will make mistakes that can cause crashes.
- The higher temperatures can increase the risk of vehicle equipment failures – The heat of summer can change the way vehicle equipment operates, as heat expands air, the fluids in a vehicle, etc. For instance, the risk of tire blowouts tends to increase in summer (as the air in tires expands while the heat can dry out/weaken the outer rubber layer).
Are you surprised to find out that summer is linked to a higher risk of auto accidents? Tell us what you think on Facebook & Google+.
Contact a Cleveland Personal Injury Lawyer at the Piscitelli Law Firm
If you have been injured in any type of traffic crash, contact a Cleveland personal injury lawyer at the Piscitelli Law Firm to find out more about your options for compensation and justice.
For well over 20 years, Ohio Lawyer Frank Piscitelli and the other legal professionals at the Piscitelli Law Firm have been dedicated to standing up for injured people’s rights and working diligently to help them maximize their financial recoveries.
To learn more about your potential case and find out how we can help you, contact us by calling (800) 931-7071 or by emailing us to set up a free case evaluation with one of our attorneys. If you choose to move forward with us, you will not have to pay any legal fees until or unless you obtain a settlement in your case.
________________________________________________________________________
1: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
2: Also according to the NHTSA
The post 5 Reasons Your Risk of a Car Crash Spikes during the Summertime appeared first on Piscitelli Law Firm.