Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
A new study published by Allstate Insurance has confirmed what many already know: Boston drivers are some of the worst in the entire country. The study, published this week, reported that the city’s drivers were the second-riskiest in the country based on the average number of reported crashes and the average years between car accidents-roughly 4.4 years.
Places like New York, Chicago, and even Los Angeles (surprisingly) ranked lower than Boston, among another 195 cities. Chicago’s drivers got in an accident roughly every 8.2 years; and New York City 7.8. While the data seems a bit surprising, given the higher volume of traffic in both the Windy City and the Big Apple, one thing cannot be disputed: the “unique” (for lack of a better word) road system in our city which many attribute to why there are so many accidents.
Unfortunately, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States according to the CDC; with more than 2 million adult drivers and passengers treated in emergency departments annually. The economic and lifetime impacts of car accidents is also substantial; with crash-related deaths and injuries among drivers and passengers costing around $70 billion.
Labor Day weekend begins tomorrow and with gas prices at an all-time low, many state experts are predicting traffic to be at its highest this weekend since 2008. According to an article published by The Patriot Ledger, AAA Southern New England expects nearly 35 million Americans traveling 50 or more miles from home this weekend-a 1.3% increase from 2013. AAA has advised those planning to travel this weekend to expect delays throughout the weekend, especially on Monday when people return home from their long weekend.
In addition to traffic woes, Labor Day is also a weekend of heavy alcohol consumption and usually sees an influx of DUI citations and alcohol-related car crashes. At Altman & Altman, we’d like to remind anyone who plans to drive or be in a vehicle this weekend to play it safe when celebrating the holiday.
1. Always have a designated driver: If you plan to consume alcohol, ensure that someone in your group commits to staying sober and being a responsible designated driver.
2. Call a taxi or car service: If no one is sober enough to get behind the wheel, call a taxi to bring you home. Remember, you can always go back and get your car in the morning-it isn’t worth risking you or your loved one’s safety.
3. Let your guests stay the night: Hosting a holiday party is stressful, especially when people are drinking. If you’re planning a party, be prepared to allow those too drunk to drive home spend the night.
4. Avoid late night driving: Most drunk drivers drive at night. If at all possible, beat the rush of travelers so you can reduce your risk of being injured by a drunk driver.
5. Drive Defensively: Even if you’re sober, there is always the chance you’ll end up sharing the road with drunk drivers. Be on high alert of your surroundings and be on the lookout for erratic driving behavior. If you suspect someone might be drunk, you should seek an alternative way home.
We hope that you have a safe and happy holiday.
