Family dinners, luminous decorations, and an abundance of snow are all commonly associated with the holiday season. However, for some, the winter season may come with a more unpleasant association: car accidents. Because of the increased road hazards, such as ice, and the long, dark nights, it may feel like the most dangerous time of year for car accidents is between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. But records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggest that the season when drivers should be most cautious may not be what you expect. Please keep reading to learn more from our car accident attorney.
December and January Car Crash Statistics
The NHTSA maintains one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of car crash data. These statistics show that in 2020, there were 5,250,837 car crashes in the United States. Of these crashes, it can be seen that:
- Crashes resulting only in property damage totaled 3,621,681
- Wrecks that resulted in one or more injuries numbered 1,593,390
- Fatality wrecks totaled 35,766
According to preliminary data compiled by NHTSA, a total of 42,915 people lost their lives in traffic crashes in 2021. No loss is comparable to the loss of life. When a family is dealing with the grief of losing a loved one, they are often overwhelmed. Many grieving families also face mounting end-of-life expenses.
If someone you love has been fatally injured in Suffolk or Nassau counties, contact an experienced car accident attorney at our firm. We have over 25 years of experience handling wrongful death lawsuits and will fight to ensure you get the compensation you need for your lost loved one.
The crash statistics data goes further, though, to note that a total of 432,118 crashes of all types occurred during December 2020. This total included 2,974 fatality accidents. And in January 2020, there were 552,937 crashes, but only 2,485 fatal accidents.
This means that, while January 2020 had one of the largest numbers of total crashes, it was not the most dangerous month for drivers in terms of fatal car accidents. If you or someone you love was injured in a car crash during the holiday season, contact a car accident attorney at The Matera Law Firm for a free consultation today.
Summer and Fall: The Most Dangerous Seasons for Drivers
You may be surprised to learn that this report’s summer and fall months saw some of the highest numbers of fatal car wrecks. For the period beginning in June 2020 and ending in October 2020, there were at least 3,000 fatal collisions each month. That is over 100 fatal car accidents every day for these five months.
Specifically, October saw the highest number of fatality and injury crashes throughout all of 2020. That month, there were 3,522 car accidents involving at least one fatality. There were an additional 157,641 injury crashes.
Warm temperatures, summer vacations, and busy roads are some of the reasons why injury and fatality numbers appear to increase during the middle of the year.
When to Call a New York Car Accident Attorney
It is important to note that these statistics do not suggest that car wrecks do not happen around the holidays. Car accidents, at any time of the year, are an unfortunate and common risk.
If you or a loved one suffers injuries in a car accident, you may have a right to seek financial compensation. A car accident attorney in New York can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
The caring and dedicated car accident attorneys at The Matera Law Firm have fought for clients for over 25 years in Suffolk County and Nassau County. Our Long Island injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you won’t owe any fees unless we successfully obtain compensation for you.
Contact our office and schedule your complimentary consultation today.
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