The holidays can be a dangerous time to be on the road. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, an average of 300 people die in car accidents between Christmas and New Year's Eve every year. In just the single week between those two holidays alone, 300 lives needlessly are ended.

Several factors come together around this season to create this driving danger.

Alcohol

Impaired drivers are an issue all year long, but the holidays multiply that risk. With so many holiday parties happening, more people get behind the wheel drunk, or even “buzzed.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that alcohol-related car accidents triple between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

Distracted Drivers

When traveling to parties or to visit family, a car can be full of distractions. A driver can easily be distracted by a “where are you?” text, or a couple of kids fighting in the back seat. Even a simple fast food burger becomes a dangerous distraction if a driver takes his or her eyes off the road. Distracted drivers killed 3,450 people in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drowsy Drivers

Visiting family can also mean long hours behind the wheel. Whether a full belly or just a full schedule is to blame, a sleepy driver can be deadly. According to the CDC, drowsiness makes a driver less likely to pay attention and slows their reaction time.

Crowded Roads

Even if all other conditions are perfect, the holidays still mean more people on the road. More people on the road means more chances for accidents, plain and simple. AAA reported record-breaking numbers of holiday travelers in 2017 and the trend only appears to be climbing.

In a perfect world, everyone would make it to his or her destination accident-free. Unfortunately, we know that accidents happen. If you have been injured in a car accident due to someone else's negligence, you need a personal injury attorney.

No one should be worried about medical bills and other expenses when healing from a wreck. As your personal injury attorney, Russell Kohn will fight for your fair financial compensation.

Contact the Kohn Law Office at (760) 710-0190 to discuss your case today.