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Labor Day Weekend is a time to let work go and spend time with friends and family. It is an extra day to get together, grill out and maybe have a few drinks. But along with the festivities comes more people on the road, and with the drinking comes a greater chance of deadly crashes. Instead of Labor Day being a fun holiday, it can turn into a tragedy for families involved in car accidents. Anyone who plans to drive over Labor Day Weekend should learn the facts and be prepared before they head out. If you were hurt in a collision at any time, holiday weekend or not, contact a Naples personal injury attorney like Randall Spivey at the Spivey Law Firm.

Labor Day 2015

Last year, Labor Day weekend brought a number of car accidents. At least five individuals died and many more were injured in collisions in the Naples area. The risk is not exclusive to Florida. The National Safety Council estimated 395 individuals would be killed on U.S. roads last Labor Day weekend. Another 47,800 were estimated to be injured. There are many reasons for a spike in accidents over a holiday weekend, including drunk or impaired driving, distraction from cell phones, passengers and eating, as well as simply more people on the roads.

Safety Tips for Labor Day Weekend

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) notes that there is always a risk of being hurt in an accident because you cannot control other people’s behavior. But you can make sure that you are not at fault for a crash over Labor Day. Follow these important safety tips from FLHSMV to reduce the risk of an accident and to keep yourself safe if someone hits you:

• Check your tires: If you have a long way to drive, make sure your tires are up to the task. A flat or blown tire on the highway can be dangerous.
• Never drink and drive: When you are headed to a party, pick a designated driver or better yet, use Uber or taxis to get to and from the celebration.
• Obey the speed limit: Speeding is greatly related to accidents. If you have to share the road with more people for one weekend, make sure to keep the speed limit. If you want to get somewhere on time and you are worried about traffic – leave early.
• Limit teen driving: It is best if the driving is left to the adults on a holiday weekend. It is particularly dangerous to let your teen drive with friends since this is a major distraction and often leads to accidents.
• Do not text or talk on the phone: Using your mobile phone, even in a hands-free mode, is a distraction and increases the risk of a crash.
• Wear a seatbelt: Many auto injuries and deaths occur drivers and passengers do not use their seat belts.

If you or someone in your family was involved in an auto accident and now faces rising medical costs and time off work, contact the Spivey law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.