Weather related accidents are something to be concerned about, and statistics back up this fact.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, weather related crashes are accidents that take place in harmful weather conditions (rain, sleet, snow, fog, severe crosswinds or blowing sand/snow/debris) or on slick pavement due to rain, snow, slush or ice.
What are the statistics? On the average 5,748,000 vehicle accidents occur every year in the U.S. and 22 percent of them (approximately 1,259,000) are weather related crashes. In addition, close to 6,000 people are killed and more than 445,000 people suffer injuries annually due to adverse weather.
Here are the percentages of accidents occurring:
(Based on 10-year averages from 2005 through 2015)
However, these are national averages, and keep in mind the fact that some states do not get snowfall to any great degree, which may be the reason that snow/sleet have a lower accident percentage.
A heavy snowstorm in early January dumped up to 13 inches of snow and resulted in more than 2,000 air flight cancellations. Winds in Queens reached close to 50 miles per hour, and snow fell at the rate of two inches an hour in Manhattan.
The New York governor declared a state of emergency for all of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County.
Unfortunately, quite a few Suffolk County residents ignored the weather conditions along with the warning to prevent accidents and injuries. A number of drivers got into accidents and became stranded as the snow kept falling.
NYC mass transit subways continued to operate but weather conditions resulted in track switch, signal and train car malfunctions.
If you have suffered injury or lost a loved one in a deadly crash, consult with an experienced accident attorney to find out about your legal rights. In many cases accident victims or families are able to recover compensation for medical and other accident related damages.
Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the holiday season, which ends after New Years Day. Everyone gets excited, and typically, this is a festive time with lots of parties, gift giving, dining out and drinking alcoholic beverages.
However despite the good cheer, statistics also show that binge drinking spikes during the holidays, so much so that it makes the rest of the year pale by comparison. More drunk drivers are on the roads than any other time, which puts people at risk for accidents.
Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS) , runs a campaign called “Sober Days for the Holidays.” According to AMS, DUI rates and deaths increase during the holiday season.
AMS monitored more than 360,000 drunk drivers who were at high risk for alcohol consumption. They discovered that the five-week period between Thanksgiving and New Years had 33% more violations than any other time of the year. The monitoring was for drivers who knew they were subjected to tests every 30 minutes, understood they would be arrested for DUI and could be sure they would face legal consequences, such as jail time. Despite all these deterrents, they could not stop themselves from drinking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between Thanksgiving and Christmas 728 people will die or suffer injury, and this statistic is double or triple the rest of the year.
As a way to avoid drunk driving during the holiday season, be sure to designate drivers and put transportation plans in place before drinking alcohol. If you see a car weaving in a lane or other evidence of drunken driving, keep your distance.
Our attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP have decades of experience representing clients in vehicle accident cases. When another party appears to be at fault, by investigating the accident, we can often establish liability and help you recover compensation.