According to statistics provided by AAA, around 48.7 million Americans travel for Thanksgiving. With more people away from home and on the road, Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday of all. If you’re traveling, follow these Thanksgiving safety tips to reduce your risks of being injured in a motor vehicle accident (MVA).

Don’t Drink and Drive

The holidays can be both a joyous and stressful time. If you drink, do not drive. Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous not only to you but also to others. In fact, according the the National Safety Council (NSC), drinking and driving during Thanksgiving is the single biggest contributor to MVA fatalities. In addition to facing criminal charges, you could also face civil allegations as well. Call a cab or ride-sharing company – such as Uber or Lyft – if you choose to drink.

Returning Texts Can Wait

If you’re behind the wheel, don’t respond to text messages. In 2016, more than 100,000 accidents occurred in Texas because of distracted driving. Even taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can be enough to result in a serious accident. If you must read and return a text, either ask your passenger to help you by reading and relying on your behalf or pull off the road and park.

Practice Defensive Driving

Between the excitement of seeing your family and friends and the time constraints you may be under to visit several people or to return to work, it’s important that you drive safely. It’s important to practice defensive driving. The defensive driving choices you make may depend on several factors. One of those factors includes the weather. You’ve already learned that there’s a drastic increase in people on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday. Adding in bad weather such as ice, snow, or rain can make driving even more dangerous. Make sure that you:

• Drive under the posted speed limit when the roads are wet or when visibility is reduced. Wet roads mean that your vehicle won’t stop as easily. Driving under the speed limit can help you avoid a wreck.
• Put lots of room between you and other vehicles. This can help you have enough time to stop if someone suddenly pulls out in front of you and you need to stop.
• Wear a seat belt.  According to the NSC, wearing a seat belt is 45% effective in reducing MVA fatalities among front seat passengers.
• Give yourself extra driving time. This can help you by giving you more time to get to where you need to be. This is important with all the extra cars on the road. Additionally, it means that you feel less stressed during your trip and you may be less likely to speed or put yourself into a situation that increases your chance of being in a wreck.

Hurt in a Wreck? Call Thompson Law

If you’re hurt in a wreck during the Thanksgiving holiday, call Thompson Law toll free at 844-308-8180, in Dallas at 214-444-4444, or in Fort Worth at 817-444-4444 to schedule your FREE initial consultation. You can learn what your claim may be worth and we can help you protect your legal rights.

Don’t let a car accident, truck wreck, or motorcycle accident during the Thanksgiving holiday ruin your life. If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision during the Thanksgiving holidays, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, time off work to heal, medical care, and more.

Further, we charge NO FEE unless we win. You will not incur any attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, or any other costs unless we recover money on your behalf. If we do obtain a settlement for you, our fee will only come out of a portion of the settlement. When you have been injured, you need an injury law firm that is recognized as champions for their clients.