Posted on Monday, August 19th, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Labor Day Weekend is the unofficial end of summer. Many individuals and families take advantage of the long weekend to take one last trip. Even if you do not take advantage of the long weekend for a road trip, you may notice increased traffic in your hometown. Over the Labor Day holiday, you can reduce your risk for a car accident by more closely following several safe driving behaviors.
Safe Driving Suggestions for the Labor Day Holiday
Slow Down
With an increase in traffic, you may notice more congestion and traffic jams around town. Decreasing the speed of your vehicle increases your time to react to stopped traffic and other driving conditions. Also, higher speeds increase your risk of deadly and catastrophic injuries if you are involved in an accident.
Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving continues to be one of the most common causes of traffic crashes across the nation. During the holiday weekend, avoid distractions while driving. If you plan to travel out of town, make sure that you program your GPS before you leave and pull over to make any adjustments to the GPS. Allow a passenger to be in charge of the cell phone while you are driving. Taking your eyes away from the road for just a few seconds could result in a terrible car crash.
Get Plenty of Rest
Drowsy or fatigued driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Make sure that you get plenty of rest if you are driving over the Labor Day weekend. While you want to enjoy as much of the activities over the weekend as possible, you do not want to forget to get enough sleep to ensure that you are not impaired when you get behind the wheel of your vehicle to drive home after an event or a road trip.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Many Labor Day events will include alcoholic beverages. If you intend to drink while celebrating the last weekend of summer, make sure that you have another way home other than driving. If possible, take a cab or Uber to the event or plan to stay overnight at the venue to avoid driving while intoxicated. If you are traveling with friends, have a designated driver who is responsible for all driving.
What Should You Do After a Labor Day Auto Accident?
Stay calm and call 911 to report the accident. It could take law enforcement officers a little longer to respond to the accident because of the holiday weekend. While waiting for the police to arrive, try to take pictures of the accident scene and ask eyewitnesses for their names and contact information. Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident.
If you do not go directly to the hospital from the accident scene, it is a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible. It is important to document your physical injuries for an insurance claim. Delays in medical treatment are often used by insurance companies to deny or undervalue injury claims.
Contact a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney for Help
Being injured in a car accident can have numerous long-term consequences. If you have questions or need help, contact our Sacramento personal injury lawyers for a free consultation by calling The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website.
