Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around spending time with family and friends, but with so many Americans living far away from loved ones, millions will be traveling by train, bus, car, and air to gather around the Thanksgiving table. This year, AAA projects that nearly 72 million people will travel by car over the holiday, which means there will be a little over 1 million more people on the road than last year and nearly 2 million more than pre-COVID-19 pandemic, when 70.6 million traveled by car for Thanksgiving.
With more vehicles on the road comes an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents. This is because heavier traffic can lead to road rage and dangerous driving behaviors like weaving in and out of traffic as well as limited space for maneuvering, shorter stopping distances, and more impatient drivers.
If you or a loved one is injured by another driver this Thanksgiving holiday, contact an experienced local car accident attorney for a free consultation and legal guidance.
NSC Estimates Hundreds of Fatalities over Thanksgiving Holiday Period
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 502 people may die in traffic accidents on U.S. roads this Thanksgiving holiday period* and an additional 57,200 injuries severe enough to require medical attention.
*In 2024 the Thanksgiving Day weekend extends from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 27 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 1.
Factors that Increase Car Accidents Over the Thanksgiving Holiday
In addition to increased traffic, there are several other factors that increase the risk of car accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Seat belt usage:
NHTSA Studies have shown that seat belts are 45 percent effective in preventing fatalities in front-seat passenger car occupants. The NSC estimates that 199 lives could be saved this Thanksgiving holiday period if drivers and passengers wear their seat belts. An additional 117 lives could be saved if everyone wears their seat belts.
Impaired driving:
Alcohol is a common part of Thanksgiving celebrations. Nationwide in 2022, traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers with blood-alcohol content of 0.08 g/dL or higher represented 32 percent of total traffic fatalities. During the Thanksgiving Day period that same year, 35 percent of car accident fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Weather conditions:
In the Pacific Northwest, Thanksgiving often coincides with challenging weather conditions, such as snow, ice, or heavy rain. Poor weather conditions can make roads slippery and increase the chance of being involved in a car accident.
Reduce Your Chances of Being Involved in a Car Accident This Thanksgiving Holiday
Here are the top four things drivers can do to reduce their chances of being involved in a car accident over the holiday period:
- Plan ahead. Avoid peak travel times and look for alternate routes to minimize time in heavy traffic.
- Stay alert. Avoid distractions like texting or eating. Start your trip well rested and take rest breaks if you are traveling for long distances to prevent fatigue.
- Avoid impaired driving. Never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications that affect judgment or reaction time. Even one drink can be too much.
- Drive Defensively. Maintain a safe following distance between you and the vehicle ahead (use the 3-second rule in normal conditions or the 6-9 second rule in poor weather conditions), respect speed limits, and try to avoid aggressive drivers
Contact a Car Accident Personal Injury Attorney
A car accident lawyer can help you recover a full and fair settlement for the injuries you sustained in a car accident with no up-front costs to you. We know the sneaky strategies used by insurance companies to get injured people to agree to settlements far below what they are worth. Our clients typically end up with a settlement or jury award that is five to ten times larger than they could have negotiated on their own. We have been representing people injured in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. Contact the experienced and hard-working personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Mount Vernon, WA today for a FREE consultation!
