5 Reasons Car Accidents are More Common in Summer

Carefree to Careless

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there is an increase in motor vehicle accident fatalities and serious accidents during the summer months compared with the winter.

In fact, death rates actually peak in July and August when there are 1.4 deaths per 100,000 miles. That's significantly more than during the safest month of the road, February, when there are 1.32 fatalities per 100,000 miles.

It may seem odd that more crashes would happen during the summer months when there is less snow and ice on the roads, and more daylight. However, there are a number of important reasons why motor vehicle accidents are so much higher in the summer.

Unfortunately, many of these reasons center around unsafe driving behaviors. When these summer accidents happen because of drivers who don't follow the rules of the road, a Maryland car accident lawyer is here to help.

You can give us a call if you or someone you love was one of the many crash victims harmed in the summer, or you can read on to find out five reasons why crash rates are up so much at this time of year.

1. More Miles Driven

During the summer, people tend to drive more. This is likely because of road trips and other summer activities, as well as because kids are out of school. The difference is significant, with the NSC data showing there were 289.8 billion miles driven in July and 290.9 billion driven in August compared with 236.2 billion in February.

The more people drive, the greater the potential for a crash occurring since there are simply more chances for accidents to happen with more vehicles on the roads.

2. More Teen Drivers On the Road

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often called the "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers. Young people are out of school, may have limited supervision while parents are working, and are more likely to be driving around with friends." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers. Young people are out of school, may have limited supervision while parents are working, and are more likely to be driving around with friends.

Teens are actually 20% more likely to be involved in fatal crashes during this time of year as a direct result of all of these factors. This happens, in large part, because these young drivers are taking more risks, have less experience, are more likely to be distracted when in the car with peers, and can engage in more unsafe behaviors such as speeding or driving without a seatbelt.

All of these higher risk behaviors are much more likely to happen during summer vacation when teens spend more time in the cars and are driving to more places beyond school.

3. Drunk Driving Increases

The summer has several high-risk days for impaired driving. In fact, between 2018 and 2022, the deadliest week for DUIs was Labor Day week, according to MoneyGeek. However, Independence Day and Memorial Day also saw sharp increases in fatal accidents with impaired drivers.

There was a 53% higher risk of drunk driving fatalities on Labor Day, a 46% higher risk on Independence Day, and a 45% higher risk on Memorial Day.

MoneyGeek also reports that there were 15,838 fatalities due to DUI crashes in the summer months from 2018 to 2022, compared with 12,961 in spring, 14,331 in fall, and 11,741 in winter.

Drunk driving is one of the deadliest driving behaviors, both because it increases the risk of a collision and because it increases the risk the crash will be deadly since an impaired driver doesn't react the way a sober driver would to try to limit crash damage.

When a driver is impaired, the intoxicated motorist is presumed to be liable for any auto accidents that occur as a result of their intoxicated driving. A car accident attorney can help crash victims get toxicology reports and find experts who can explain the damage the impaired driver has done.

4. Road Construction Increases

Summer is a prime time of year for road construction to occur. Construction disrupts normal traffic patterns and can result in drivers facing an increased crash risk.

While drivers are supposed to slow down through construction zones, this doesn't always happen. In fact, some drivers become impatient due to delays in construction zones and end up speeding after exiting those areas to try to make up for lost time.

Construction and debris can also pose hazards on the road and can impact visibility or cause drivers to swerve unpredictably to avoid debris.

5. Speeding Surges During the Summer Months

When a driver speeds, the driver has less control over the vehicle and is more likely to lose control. Serious accidents like rollover crashes are much more likely when drivers take turns too fast. A speeding driver also has a longer stopping distance, which means they are less able to avoid a collision if something unexpected happens in their car's path.

Get Help from an Experienced Maryland Auto Accident Attorney

When you or someone you love is involved in a crash during the summer months, or during any time of the year, you may be entitled to make a damage claim against the driver who caused the collision. In some cases, you may also be able to pursue a claim against others as well, such as those responsible for creating a hazardous construction zone that led to a crash.

If you can prove the other driver is to blame, you should be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress damages. An experienced Maryland car accident lawyer can provide the legal advice you need to understand who can be held legally liable for losses and to pursue a successful claim against the defendants liable for your losses.

If you’d like to discuss your personal injury claim in more detail, the David I. Steinberg Law Group offers free introductory consultations. Whatever you do, don’t wait. Insurance companies are notorious for finding every reason they can to not pay out on a claim. The longer you wait, the weaker they’ll say your claim is. Call 301-589-4597 or email me at ds@dsteinlaw.com today for a free consultation.