Summertime Car Accident Safety: What You Need to Know

The kids are out of school, the temperatures are soaring, and everyone’s calendars are full of barbeques, summer parties, and travel plans. That all sounds like the set-up of a great summer, and it’s also setting exactly the right conditions for summertime car accidents or collisions.

No one wants to put a damper on their summer fun by thinking about sobering statistics, but every single day in Pennsylvania, there are about 221 injuries and three fatalities resulting from car accidents. Most people prepare themselves and their vehicles for weather-related accidents in the colder months, but car accidents and car collisions happen at all times of the year. During the summer months there are plenty of factors at play that can make driving notably more dangerous.

1. More inexperienced drivers are on the roads—When teenagers are out of school for the summer, that means they’re more likely to be out on the road and driving for longer periods of time. Less experience with driving means more potential for accidents and collisions. Teen drivers are less likely to understand how to follow or accurately judge traffic patterns, they’re more likely to be tempted by distractions such as cell phones, and they don’t have the experience necessary to swiftly navigate and avoid potential collisions. If you have a teen driver in your household, it’s important to talk with them about how to prevent accidents and help avoid collisions and injuries.
2. More drivers are travelling from out-of-town—With summer comes road trips, travel, and vacations. More drivers will be out on the roads who may be unfamiliar with local traffic rules or patterns, they may also be focused on following GPS directions and not paying attention to their surroundings, or they could be distracted by new sights along the way to their destination. You won’t necessarily know who is from out-of-town and who isn’t, but you can try to steer clear of drivers who may appear as if they don’t quite know where they are going.
3. Warmer weather still means wear and tear on your vehicle—Tire blowouts are at their peak from the months of May to October. Summertime’s soaring temperatures mean hotter roads, and if tires are underinflated, they can overheat and explode. Check your tire pressure on a regular basis throughout the summer and maintain proper inflation levels. No matter where it happens, whether in suburban traffic or driving down the parkway, tire blowouts can cause catastrophic accidents. And it won’t hurt to make sure that everything else is in working order as well. A car that is broken down on the side of the road or improperly functioning while it is being operated is a hazard that can quickly turn into an accident scene.

It’s easy to think that a car accident is something that will happen to someone else and somewhere else. But the reality is that car accidents can happen at any time, anywhere, and during any season. It pays to be prepared and to know that someone has your back.

At Hal Waldman & Associates, we want you and your family to have a happy and safe summer, and we want you to know that we’ll be there for you in the event that a car accident or car collision happens to you.

And if you or a loved one were involved in an accident at any time of the year, call our experienced, dedicated lawyers for a free consultation. Schedule your free consultation with Hal Waldman & Associates online now or call us at (412) 338-1000.