Staying Safe & Avoiding Accidents During Record-Breaking Holiday Travel

The holidays can be a hectic time of year, especially if you are traveling to visit your loved ones or vice versa. Many people skipped holiday travel in the past few years due to risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many of those concerns being reduced, holiday travel is expected to return this year. This will be reflected in both highway travel and air travel. Car accident rates increase during the holidays, and this year should be no different. If you’re injured in a car accident in Arizona this holiday season, our experienced personal injury team is here to assist you. To schedule your free phone consultation to discuss your legal situation, click here or call 602-600-6001.

Holiday Travel & Car Accidents

When more people are on the road, the likelihood of being in a traffic collision increases. During the holidays, some people experience additional stress and may be more likely to have a higher blood alcohol content after celebrations and festivities. It’s no wonder that car crash rates go up during holiday weekends. This year, 4.7 million people are expected to travel by air for the holidays, which is an increase of 6% from last year. The number of people expecting to travel by car is much higher at about 49 million. Approximately 1.5 million people expect to travel for the holidays with some other mode of transportation besides driving or flying. These numbers are the highest on record since 2005. The average cost for a holiday plane ticket this year is $700, which is an increase of 5% from last year. The busiest travel time of the year should be between 2 PM and 6 PM on the day before Thanksgiving. If you can avoid traveling at peak times, it can help reduce your chance of getting in an accident.

What to Do If You’re In a Holiday Accident

Accidents are already stressful enough without factoring in extra traffic on the road, being in a different city, etc. However, the steps you should take after a holiday traffic accident are basically the same as should be completed after any other traffic collision. If you have any questions about any step of the personal injury claim process, our injury lawyers offer free consultations by phone- click here or call 602-600-6001 to schedule.

Move Your Vehicle Off The Road & Somewhere Safe

If your vehicle has sustained considerable damage and is no longer operable, this clearly won’t be an option. But if removing your vehicle from traffic is an option, this can help reduce the chance that you’re struck by another vehicle while waiting for emergency services or exchanging insurance information.

Assess Your Injuries

If you’ve sustained serious bodily injury in an accident, this is paramount to dealing with property damage. You should call 911 immediately if you believe your injuries need to be treated at a hospital. With less severe injuries, it might be okay to see a doctor or urgent care after you get home or the following day. But it’s recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident. You may have injuries of which you aren’t even aware, and this starts a trail of documents that will support your case if you choose to pursue a personal injury claim.

Exchange Insurance Information With The Other Driver

Arizona, like most states, requires that operators of motor vehicles involved in traffic accidents stop at the scene (or as close as is safely possible) to exchange insurance information and other details with any other involved parties. Failure to do so is a criminal offense.

Take Pictures of Bodily Injury & Property Damage

Evidence is necessary to strengthen a personal injury claim, and pictures from the scene of the accident are one of the strongest forms of evidence. You can always come back to the scene to take additional photos of conditions that could’ve factored into your accident, but some things can only be captured in the accident’s immediate aftermath. If you are too injured to take photos at the scene of an accident, you may want to see if a loved one can come do it for you or ask the police to come to the scene.

Call The Police to the Scene

Not everyone will want to get the police involved after a traffic accident. It won’t always be optional. Emergency services may already be on the way to the scene of an accident before either driver can decide whether or not they want them there. The police can take photos of the scene and analyze other evidence. They may even be able to issue a determination on who was at fault for the accident. This should be included in the police report. A police report isn’t determinative of personal injury claims but can be a convincing piece of evidence.

Determine Your Losses Due To The Accident

Most accident victims don’t begin the personal injury claims process immediately after getting home after a traffic collision. It can take time to receive medical treatments and get estimates on property damage before the plaintiff can properly assess their losses. Making sure you keep track of all of your damages can help you start negotiations off on the right foot. Don’t forget to include any lost income or earning potential you experienced due to your injuries, as well as compensation for your pain and suffering.

Send Your Demand Letter & Begin Negotiating your Settlement Agreement

The other party (most likely represented by an insurance company) will not just hand over money to you. You need to create a demand letter that explains every damage you are seeking in your personal injury claim. Sending your letter to the other party’s legal representative will initiate the negotiation process. It will usually take some back and forth before reaching an amount that is agreeable to both parties. If you reach an impasse with the other party, an injury lawyer who is a skilled negotiator will come in handy.

• Settle or go to trial. Chances are that your case will settle out of court- about 95% of personal injury claims do. But the other party will take your claim more seriously if they know you are prepared to take your claim all the way to trial. Your attorney will help you review pending settlement offers to determine if it is worth settling your claim or if you should proceed with trial.

The Law Team You Can Trust With Your Arizona Injury Claim

There are several moving parts to an injury claim, but your accident attorney can help you stay on track for every area relevant to your case. You and your family need fair compensation for your injuries no matter what time of the year your accident occurs. Don’t let the insurance company pay you less than your claim is worth. Our dedicated injury team at Mesa Injury Lawyers will handle your claim from start to finish, making sure you receive the medical treatment and funds that you deserve. When you’re ready to start with your free phone consultation, contact us through our online form or call 602-600-6001 to schedule your free appointment with a member of our Arizona injury team.

Mesa Injury Lawyers
1731 West Baseline Road Suite #103
Mesa, AZ 85202
Tel: 602-600-6001
Email: [email protected]
Website: injurylawyersmesa.com