Summertime Car Crashes: When You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the summer months see the highest rate of motor vehicle fatalities. In general, car crash incidences, whether fatal or not, increase in the summer for a number of reasons:

• Teen drivers, who are less experienced and more impulsive while driving, are out on the road more, especially since school is out.
• National holidays such as the Fourth of July or Labor Day see an increase in drinking and driving
• More people are on the road, going on vacation, taking short trips during the day, and enjoying the warmer weather on their motorcycles.
• The intense summer sunlight could interfere with visibility on the road.

There’s a possible increase in road rage, especially for drivers stuck in long commutes on a sweltering day.

Even if you’re involved in a relatively minor collision, you could benefit from calling on an experienced car accident lawyer. For instance, it may not be clear who shares the greater portion of the responsibility for an accident. The other parties involved may attempt to blame it on you, wholly or in part, when in reality you were behaving responsibly. You may be subject to fees, penalties or criminal charges that are excessive or entirely unwarranted. And if you’re in a more serious collision, involving significant damage to your vehicle and, in the worst cases, physical trauma to yourself and your passengers, you’ll need the assistance of a lawyer to assess damages and figure out how to pay medical expenses.

If you’re involved in a car accident, stay calm. Don’t lash out in anger or violent reprisal at the other parties involved, and don’t flee the scene in a panic. Assess yourself for injuries and check how others in your vehicle are doing. Call 911 if there are any injuries or possible fatalities, or if the accident has brought about an unsafe condition, such as a downed utility pole or a fallen tree. New York State’s DMV has outlined some guidelines for what to do if you’re in a crash.

This summer, the hope is that you’ll stay safe and drive without negative incident. However, if you have the misfortune of being in a car accident and aren’t sure of how to proceed in the aftermath, contact us. We’ll review the incident with you and give you expert advice on the best course of action.