THE HIGH RISK OF SUMMER DRIVING

Have you been scanning the news lately and feeling like you see more stories about serious car accidents and catastrophic injuries? Does it seem like the roads got far less safe as the temperatures increased this year? 

If so, you’re not wrong. The National Safety Council notes that serious and even fatal car accidents almost always tick up a notch in the summer months. July and August, in particular, have the highest number of fatal crashes. July is also the peak month for sheer miles driven, with nearly 300 billion miles, although August is very close. 

WHY IS THE SUMMER MORE DANGEROUS?

This increase in driving is certainly one of the reasons for the corresponding increase in serious crashes, but the issue is compounded by the fact that many of the drivers are young. Teens and young adults have the highest crash rates in the nation, and many of them are high school and college students. When school is out for June, July and August, they have more free time and/or summer jobs, and having them on the road more often puts everyone in danger. 

When you really begin to look into the stats, it quickly becomes so daunting that authorities have dubbed it the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers.” It’s clear that these drivers are going to face a greater potential of getting in life-altering accidents until they head back to school in the fall. 

WHEN YOU’VE BEEN INJURED, TAKE ACTION

But that risk isn’t just to those teen drivers. As an adult, you also face elevated risks from sharing the road with them. If you get injured, you need to know what legal steps you can take to seek compensation for your losses.