With summer upon us, many Baton Rouge-area families are taking to the road. So are several new teen drivers and other out-of-state motorists who are traveling to visit family and go on vacation. That’s why the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is identified as the 100 deadliest days of summer. During this time period, accidents involving teen drivers increases by as much as 15%.
How Louisiana stacks up
According to the National Safety Council, traffic deaths increase significantly between the months of June and October, averaging nearly 4,000 fatalities per month. This is especially concerning given that 2021 saw a 12% increase in traffic fatalities in 2021 alone.
Louisiana hasn’t fared much better either. According to statistics, the state saw nearly 47,000 accidents resulting in injury, and nearly 1,000 traffic fatalities last year, which was a new record. Projections for 2022 aren’t much better. It’s estimated that by the end of this year there will be more than 47,000 traffic accidents and more than 900 deaths.
These numbers are disturbing, as they appear to be on an upward trend over the last several years. Although public safety and law enforcement initiatives have tried to curtail the increase in these numbers, the sad reality is that they haven’t done much good.
What about Baton Rouge Parish?
Baton Rouge Parish sees its fair share of crashes too, with many of them resulting in serious injuries and death. In fact, some statistics show that there are more than 4,000 injury-related wrecks each year in our parish, and dozens are killed. These numbers appear to track the national trend of being heightened during summer months as more miles are driven and more inexperienced motorists take to the road.
Why summer accidents are so common
There are many reasons why accident rates increase over the summer. One reason, which we mentioned above, is that there are more young and inexperienced drivers on the road. But that’s not the only contributing factor. Summer oftentimes gives rise to more road congestion and construction zones, which can increase the rate of rear-end collisions. Even the excess heat felt during the summer months can lead to dehydration and fatigue, which can decrease driver attention and reaction time, thereby increasing the risk of being involved in a serious car accident.
You also have to remember that more miles are driven during the summer months, which gives rise to a greater opportunity for something to go wrong. So, the more you drive during the summer months the more likely you are to get into an accident.
What you can do after being injured in a car accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, then you’re probably trying to figure out your next steps. To start, you should obtain the medical treatment that you need. Then, you can focus on developing a legal claim that seeks to impose liability and recover compensation for the damages that you’ve suffered. These losses can include your economic damages, including your medical expenses and lost wages, but they can also include your noneconomic damages, such as your pain and suffering and your mental anguish.
We know that the thought of pursuing a legal claim can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to focus on your recovery and reclaiming your normal life. But that’s why law firms like ours are here to help. If you’d like to learn more about what an experienced and aggressive legal team can do to help you with your case, then please consider researching your representation options.