Are Car Accidents More Common in the Summer?
It might surprise you to learn that the summer months, specifically June, July, and August, are peak months for car accidents. While the roads may no longer be covered with ice and snow, there are other summer-specific road hazards that can contribute to car accidents.
Research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed that, in 2019, each month from May to September was deadlier in terms of traffic fatalities than the winter months of that same year. They also identified the dates with the most traffic-related deaths each year from 2015 to 2019, and all those dates but one occurred during summer. The IIHS found that July 4th was one of the most common days for traffic fatalities during that window of time.
Car Accidents in the Summer
There are numerous reasons why an uptick in car accidents typically occurs during the summer months, including:
- More young drivers on the road – With school out for the summer, teen drivers, who have less experience behind the wheel than adults do, will be taking to Virginia highways in larger numbers. Their inexperience can make them a hazard to other motorists.
- Intoxicated driving – Drunk driving often occurs during the summer months. Careless motorists who consume alcohol or drugs and then get behind the wheel may not be able to properly judge traffic situations and might experience delayed response times, which can lead to devastating collisions.
- Tourists on vacation – With students on summer break, many families decide to take vacations during the summer months. As a result, Fairfax may see an influx of motorists who aren’t familiar with local roadways. These motorists can easily get turned around or become distracted by GPS devices and inadvertently cause accidents.
- Inclement weather conditions – Summer is right in the middle of hurricane season, and Virginia tends to see plenty of rainstorms from May through September. Motorists who fail to adjust their speed to accommodate hazardous weather conditions pose a significant risk to other drivers.
Other common road hazards include an increase in road construction, mechanical issues caused by the heat, and an increase in motorcyclists sharing the road with passenger vehicles.
You can protect yourself and your passengers by educating yourself about some of the common dangers of driving during the summer. If, by chance, you are involved in a car accident this summer, you have a legal right to pursue financial relief for your injuries.
Compensation Following a Car Accident
If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by a negligent party, you could recover compensation for damages you suffered. Those damages might be financial or non-financial. Through a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, you could obtain financial relief for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care costs
- Rehabilitative care expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Future lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of quality of life
- Other non-financial losses
To successfully secure the compensation you need to get your life back on track, you will probably need an attorney’s help. You are much more likely to get a fair settlement and avoid costly litigation by working with an experienced Virginia car accident lawyer to pursue compensation.
Contact Us for Help
Were you injured in a car accident in Fairfax, VA, that wasn’t your fault? If so, the Fairfax car accident lawyers at Whitestone Young, PC, can help. We have the resources to guide you through the claims process and build a strong case on your behalf. We offer a free consultation so that you can understand all of your legal rights and options. Call us at 703-591-0200 today.
