According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), New Mexico is one of the most dangerous states in America for fatal car accidents. In 2020, the state had the sixth-most deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Car crash patterns have shown that fatal accidents tend to happen more frequently during certain times of the year. To help you plan your drives and keep your passengers safe, the Albuquerque personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe present the most dangerous days to travel in New Mexico.
Holidays Are Full of Drunk Drivers
Many fatal car accidents happen because of drunk driving. This makes traveling on Albuquerque roads more dangerous during holidays where festivities involve alcohol consumption. For many people, these holidays include Memorial Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Balloon Fiesta, Presidents’ Day, and Cinco De Mayo. Historically, car accidents in New Mexico increase on these days.
Note per 2021 data shared by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Memorial Day, Presidents’ Day, and Balloon Fiesta always fall on long weekends, so you can expect that they have the most number of crashes.
Teen Driving During the Summer
In addition to the aforementioned holidays, summer is also a time when traffic accidents see an uptick. Teenagers, having a lot of free time because school is out, are on the road more during the summer than any other season. Some teens lack the experience and skill to drive safely, which makes the summer months some of the most dangerous days to travel in New Mexico.
Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death for American teens according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency claims that in 2020, nearly 2,800 teens were killed in car accidents resulting in about $40.7 billion in medical costs and cost estimates for lives lost in 2020.
Defensive Driving as a Strategy
The best way to avoid a traffic accident during the most dangerous days to travel in New Mexico is by not driving. However, that’s not always possible or reasonable, so your next layer of protection is increasing your defensive driving skills.
New Mexico offers four-hour and six-hour defensive driving courses that cost $15 and $30, respectively. Additionally, there are a number of private businesses that offer defensive driving classes that are approved by the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Not everyone on Albuquerque roads is intoxicated, inexperienced, or reckless, but you can bet on encountering such drivers. While you can’t control how they drive, you can prepare yourself to deal with them safely with skills you develop from the information learned in defensive driving classes. Four hours and $15 is a small price to pay for information that may help keep you safe for a lifetime.
Injured During the Most Dangerous Days to Travel in New Mexico?
If you do end up in an accident during the most dangerous days to travel in New Mexico, you’ll need more than medical help–you’ll also need legal help. Many insurance companies shortchange their customers by offering a settlement that’s a fraction of what they deserve for their injuries, pain, and suffering.
You can fight back by connecting a reputable Albuquerque personal injury lawyer from Lerner and Rowe. In addition to winning clients the money that they deserve, our lawyers are committed to helping them carry the emotional burden of an injury so that they can focus on recovery.
You can reach Lerner and Rowe by phone at 505-544-4444 or online through LiveChat. Representatives are available 24/7 and consultations are always free. Plus, you don’t pay any out-of-pocket fees until you win your case.
For over three decades, the legal team at Lerner and Rowe has been dedicated to assisting individuals harmed in accidents. With an extensive history of securing billion-dollar outcomes, our attorneys possess a demonstrated track record for success. Moreover, our committed staff takes immense pride in helping alleviate the burdens faced by our clients due to their injuries and other losses. Reach out to us today to discover the many reasons why we’ve earned thousands of five star reviews and a reputation for being more than just your average law firm.