Last Updated: May 2nd, 2022 at 10:22 pm
Read Time: 2 Minutes
Fourth of July is synonymous with freedom and fireworks. Though celebrating the nation’s birthday is most often linked with BBQs and family fun, many also think of it as a perfect time to travel.
Last year, AAA projected that nearly 47 million Americans would be traveling during the Independence Day weekend, making it a more popular travel holiday than Memorial Day. That marks a 5 percent increase compared to last year’s numbers and marks the highest number of people traveling since AAA began tracking the holiday 18 years ago. According to AAA, the holiday period for Independence Day extended from June 30 to July 4. During this time, the club estimated that 39.7 million people would drive to their destination.
With 39.7 million people driving around the U.S., it should be no surprise that auto accidents were bound to happen. Independence Day weekend is considered one of the most dangerous holidays to drive.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an average of 307 lives are lost in motor vehicle accidents on Independence Day. The IIHS studied traffic fatalities between 2010 and 2014 to determine the top 10 days with the most accident fatalities; July 4 was the deadliest, while July 5 was the 6th deadliest day during the time period analyzed.
According to the analysis completed by the IIHS, July 4 was especially dangerous for motorcyclists. On average, 26 motorcyclist deaths occur during the holiday weekend. For comparison, the daily average between 2010 and 2014 was 12.1.
Alcohol was the number one cause of these fatalities. About 47% of the deaths during Independence Day weekend were caused by drunk drivers.
In Broward County, an estimated 279 crashes were reported during the Independence Day weekend in 2017. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, 108 crashes led to injuries, and although 0 were fatal incidents, 10 lead to total incapacitating injuries. The number of crashes was lower than those reported in 2016 when 292 car accidents were reported during the same time period.
Additionally, the number of crashes during the Independence Day holiday weekend in 2015 was lower than in the most recent years. In 2015, only three fatal accidents were reported during the 4th of July holiday weekend.
While drunk driving is the number one cause of accidents, speeding, reckless driving, and drowsy driving also contribute to the high number of incidents.
If you or a loved one is hurt in an accident on 4th of July weekend, contact attorneys you can trust. Weinstein Legal can provide counsel to determine your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
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