Road Fatalities and Accidents During Thanksgiving Week
Thanksgiving is undoubtedly one of the country’s most joyous holidays. On the other hand, it is also one of the deadliest holidays. The days leading up to Thanksgiving Day, especially the night before, are notorious for drinking and partying. Without work the following day, a lot of people go to bars to celebrate Thanksgiving week with their friends and loved ones. This drastic increase in drinking alcohol and partying means more people drink and drive, and more people get injured or killed in drunk driving crashes.
The majority of accidents and road fatalities during Thanksgiving week are typically caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless acts. If you or a loved one find yourself hurt in a Thanksgiving accident, discuss your case with our Florida car accident lawyer. Here are some factors that cause or contribute to Thanksgiving road crashes:
Drunk Driving
When families and friends gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, the celebration usually involves alcohol. A toast or two with friends and loved ones at the dinner table is a nice way to socialize and unwind, but some people over the drinking and then choose to drive when they are drunk. Others even get behind the wheel while drunk and high on drugs.
Additionally, people typically gather at bars and restaurants over the course of Thanksgiving week. Some of these people may insist on driving home, even if they have consumed alcohol. But drunk drivers have less coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times, which drastically raises the risk of a drunk driving crash.
More People On The Roadways
Millions of people travel and head to various states to celebrate Thanksgiving week. Put simply, the congested roads leading up to and during Thanksgiving Day significantly increase the risk of car accidents. Many drivers also find themselves driving on unfamiliar roadways during Thanksgiving.
If a driver is constantly checking their navigation app or talking or texting someone for directions, they’ll be more likely to get into a crash. Likewise, a driver who doesn’t know the area well may not be prepared for various road hazards that may lead them to slam their brakes or drive erratically.
Fatigued Driving
Drowsiness, sleepiness, or fatigue after Thanksgiving dinners is actually real. The fatigue people feel is from a combination of several factors, such as:
- Changes in the body’s metabolism during digestion
- The stress of attending or hosting gatherings
- Changes in insulin and glucose balance
- Lounging around after eating a huge meal
- Drinking or doing drugs
- Traveling to and from gatherings
Regardless of the cause, driving while fatigued can make people less alert and more vulnerable to dangerous or deadly crashes.
Reach Out to an Experienced Florida Car Accident Attorney Today
Although the Thanksgiving season is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable time, unfortunately, the amount of people traveling around the state and other factors mentioned above significantly increases the risk of getting into a car crash. To explore your legal options after your Thanksgiving car accident, contact Matthews Injury Law at 813-530-1000 or online to arrange your free consultation with our Florida car accident attorney.