Do you have plans for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday? If you are like most Americans, you likely have planned a barbecue, beach trip or at least to venture out and watch the local fireworks displays.
Whatever you do, be mindful that this patriotic summer holiday is considered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to be the most deadly day of the year. Additionally, the National Safety Council (NSC) issued its prediction for the number of potential lives lost across the nation over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday: 599.
A heavy holiday toll
What about this holiday is so hazardous? In a nutshell, the sheer volume of holiday travelers increases the possibility of getting into a car accident. With more than 43 million vacationers taking to the roads this Fourth of July, that’s understandable.
Something not so understandable is the enhanced risk of drunken driving, which especially drives the collision statistics skyward. Statistics show that more than 40% of traffic casualties over the July Fourth long weekend can be attributed to drinking and driving.
Keep yourself safer (and still have fun)
The number one thing that motorists and passengers can do to save lives is to wear a seat belt, as that alone drops the risk of fatal injury by nearly half. But as safely as you might drive, you still have to worry about the inebriated drivers behind the wheel in the cars and trucks around you on the highways.
If you get injured in a holiday wreck
The first thing that you need to do is get treatment for your accident injuries. Doing this documents that the injuries you received were attributed to the car wreck. Also, your initial actions at the crime scene can affect the amount of the eventual damage claim settlement that you may receive, so never apologize after an accident.
