Serious Car Crashes During Thanksgiving Holiday

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There is one thing to not be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

According to numerous studies, Thanksgiving is the one holiday period each year in which most deadly car crashes usually occur.  That’s because around that time is when we typically see a jump in dangerous and negligent drivers.

We may see even more drivers than usual on the road this Thanksgiving holiday. AAA forecasts that this will be the busiest driving Thanksgiving period since 2005, with 48.5 million people traveling via automobile between November 21 and November 25.

Careless Drivers Who Cause Accidents

More cars and trucks on the road predictably mean more highway crashes.  But the jump in fatal crashes beginning the Wednesday before each Thanksgiving is result of not only more drivers, but more reckless ones.

The University of Alabama annually reviews Thanksgiving holiday driving accidents to warn travelers of heightened dangers.  This year is no exception.  A University of Alabama news release published in mid-November states that more than half of all automobile crashes that happen the week of Thanksgiving occur on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Turkey Day.

Many causes have been identified for this annual spike in motor vehicle accidents. Some, such as inclement weather and a substantial in deer population, are geo-specific.  They don’t standardly apply all across the country.

But one factor does, and that’s poor driver behavior.

Drunk Drivers and Fatal Car Crashes

Drunk drivers who cause fatal car crashes are a national scourge.  In 2017, nearly 11,000 people in this country – including 200 children - were killed in an alcohol-impaired crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 800 people have been killed in drunk driving accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday the last four years.

The Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving is a big night for the nation’s bars.  So a rise in Thanksgiving holiday car crashes is probably linked to more drunk drivers on the roads the night before the holiday.

The NHTSA also warns of a growing danger of drivers mixing alcohol with illegal or prescription drugs. So many serious crashes occur the day before Thanksgiving that involve drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs it has been called “Blackout Wednesday.”

Speeding drivers likewise are responsible for many holiday fatal crashes, and the NHTSA urges drivers to slow down this Thanksgiving holiday, especially at night or during bad weather.

Thanksgiving and other holidays are a time for family celebrations.  Due to the negligent actions of some drivers, they unfortunately bring families together for a tragedies.

If you were seriously injured or had a family member killed in a car crash caused by another driver, speak to a motor vehicle accident attorney about holding accountable all those responsible.

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.

Authored by Gray Ritter Graham, posted in Blog November 16, 2018

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