While more than half of car accident incidents over the New Year are alcohol-related, it still is only the third most dangerous holiday for driving in the United States.

The holiday season is known for being a time that families gather and people refocus themselves on their goals through resolutions about their health habits or other aspects of life. However, it is not just a time of celebration and hope but a time of pain and loss. We know that about the New Year holiday, that the roads get dangerous as night falls. But Christmas is dangerous too.

While these holidays are challenging, there are other holidays, days, and months that carry higher driving risk too. Before we look at those days that are problematic throughout the country, it is worth first looking at our area. Unfortunately, we assume heightened risk than others throughout the country when we hit the Houston roads.

Houston the #1 metro area for traffic deaths

First, it is important to consider the issue of driving safety locally. The specific issues with Houston roadways suggest that drivers should be more vigilant than is typical throughout the year – simply accounting for the perils that are, sadly, unique to our city.

The Houston Chronicle studied sixteen years of data on accident deaths. The newspaper found that the Houston roads were deadlier than those of any other metro area. The federal highway data studied by the Chronicle came from 2001 through 2016. The reporters found that the Houston metro logs 2850 major car crash injuries annually, along with 640 deaths. Houston is the deadliest for car drivers and passengers, as well as pedestrians, found the study.

In this environment, it is critically important to drive defensively and otherwise exercise caution.

Fridays

While more car accidents occur at certain times (such as New Year’s) because of people’s intoxication, the chance of a car accident also rises when people are finishing up a typical week. Assumedly overeager for the weekend, the greatest time for aggressive driving — in which there are greater instances of rapid acceleration and hard braking — is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, per an analysis by Nationwide. 

August

Some holidays are particularly dangerous, but the most unsafe driving month is actually August, according to the same study. The insurer found that there were more people killed in August crashes from 2012 through 2016 than in any other month during that period. August 2016 was the worst month of all for total crashes, with 60,976 of them reported.

Memorial Day

To start looking at the holidays, the one that is associated with the  sixth-highest traffic fatalities is Memorial Day which makes sense since it is thought of by many as the end of a three-day party that kicks off the summer. Memorial Day itself is the day that involves the most drinking as well as travel home, so it is unsurprising that a study of holiday roadway deaths (Arnold and Cerrelli) found there were 32% more car accident deaths on Monday than the prior three days.

Labor Day

The fifth-highest number of roadway deaths occur on Labor Day. This holiday has much in common with Memorial Day – serving as a cap to the end of summer with three-day trips. The roads can get congested, and people can end up becoming frustrated and making bad decisions.

Christmas

Many people are off work Christmas Day, and many do not work all of Christmas Eve. People rush around to make final gift purchases and head to the homes of family. In this climate, traffic accidents increase from the afternoon of December 24th to the evening of December 25th.

Plus, alcohol is often involved. According to 2001-2005 data from the NHTSA, 36% of car accidents on a typical day involved drunk driving. However, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the percentage rose to 45 percent. This alcohol use is a primary reason Christmas is the fourth-most-dangerous holiday.

Note that when Christmas falls on a weekend, it is a safer time to drive than when it falls during the week.

New Year’s

Many adults go out and celebrate on this holiday. Some drink excessively, leading to more danger from drunk driving – particularly late at night (i.e., from midnight forward). The leadup to the turn of the year on New Year’s Eve involves binge drinking for many; and that means a higher incidence of drunk driving. According to the 2001-2005 NHTSA cited above, more than half of car accidents (54%) over New Year’s Eve and Day involved alcohol impairment. Again, alcohol is a major influence in why this holiday is the third-deadliest for traffic crashes.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday that many families consider important, so they head out on the road to grandparents and elsewhere. People often do not have the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving off. That lack of preparation time for the big meal results in unsafe roads. Drivers heading to and from Thanksgiving get-togethers in 2019 may be suffering from drowsiness. They may be on their phones or otherwise distracted. They may be hurrying to their destinations. There were more than 500 Thanksgiving traffic deaths from 2001 to 2006. The good news is that number has dropped, nationwide, in the past few years; nonetheless, this holiday is still ranked second among holidays for roadway fatalities.

Independence Day

Actually the deadliest holiday of 2019, based on past years, will likely be the 4th of July, aka Independence Day. Over that four-day holiday in 2012, per National Safety Council data, there were about 540 car accident deaths. Over that same span, there were 58,000 major injuries arising from these incidents.

Help when you are a victim on the road

You can get in a car crash any time, whether it is one of the peak danger periods to be on the road or not. Have you recently been involved in a car accident? At Farrah Martinez Law Firm, we proactively and effectively represent clients in their personal injury cases. Learn about founding attorney Farrah Martinez.

One drunk driver can change your life and those you love forever! But you and your loved ones have rights. Farrah Martinez, a top rated drunk driving lawyer and car accident lawyer in Houston, Texas defends your rights to brighten your future.

Police only lay charges

Police charge drunk drivers for breaking the law. And you won’t receive any compensation for your pain, injuries, property damage and expenses unless you file a civil claim. But time is of the essence. Why? Because in Texas you have two years to file a car accident lawsuit before the statute of limitations kicks in. Thus, filing sooner than later will increase your chance of a positive outcome.

You deserve compensation for:

  • Bodily Injury

Your body and your life will never be the same. A drunk driving accident can cause lifelong pain, job loss, marital or family stress and more. As a result, you’ll need financial resources to help deal with these issues.

  • Property Damage

Who should pay for repair or replacement of your car, damage to your home or property? A drunk driver should! Drunk driving accidents cause psychological and physical damage. A good DUI lawyer takes both of these things into account in a drunk driving lawsuit.

  • Lost wages

Accident victims lose weeks, months and sometimes years off work because of their injuries. How will you provide for your loved ones? While you did not bring this on yourself you shouldn’t be left to deal with major financial losses you may incur as a result.

  • Medical bills

Medical bills add up quickly – and expensively. Accident victims may require specialized care from a variety of health providers or institutions – for something that was not your fault and shouldn’t be your responsibility.

In addition to your shock, pain and other outcomes, there may be funeral and estate expenses to deal with. You shouldn’t have to pay for losing a loved one to a drunk driver.

  • Counselling

Car crash victims oftentimes require counselling for extended periods to deal with the shock, physical and emotional pain left behind by an irresponsible drunk driver. Depression, anxiety and other such issues may set in as a result, leaving you feeling helpless and alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Houston’s drunk driving lawyer helps those who can’t help themselves

Fact: The State of Texas recognizes that a bar, restaurant or liquor store that sells alcohol to a drunk driver is also negligent. You get maximum compensation with Houston DUI accident lawyer Farrah Martinez. Farrah makes those people responsible for your catastrophic injuries and losses pay for their negligence.

You live in the Lone Star State but you’re not alone with Farrah Martinez on your side!

Let Houston’s drunk driving lawyer fight for your rights

Farrah Martinez is an aggressive, smart and expert drunk driving and car accident lawyer in Houston, TX.  She makes drunk drivers pay. And their lawyers and insurance companies nervous. She is compassionate and approachable to her clients. A top-rated personal injury lawyer backed by years of experience with drunk driving lawsuits.  Combining a decade of legal experience with hard work on her clients’ behalf, Farrah treats every case as if it’s a championship fight – because she knows it’s exactly that to her clients. Farrah will meet with you and provide ongoing personalized service. Your fight is her fight and she won’t get paid until you win! If you’ve been the victim of a drunk driving accident in Houston, TX there’s only one number to call (713) 853-9296. Ask for Farrah. You’ll be glad you did!

Drunk driving lawyer serving Houston, TX and surrounding areas including Cypress, Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Bellaire, South Houston, Humble and Kingwood, TX