The holiday season is one of the most joyous times of the year. However, it is also one of ‘ busiest and most dangerous periods for travel.
As a leading car accident lawyer in St. Cloud, Nelson Personal Injury, LLC offers tips to help you enjoy the holidays while safely navigating the dangers on the road.
Get Your Car Inspected
While it may not be due for a mandated inspection, ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition to handle your holiday travels is a great place to start. Consider the distance you will drive and any potential weather conditions you may face.
You’ll want to be sure that your tires have good tread and can handle snowy or icy conditions. Additionally, all wiper blades should work effectively, and all lights should fully illuminate. And to ensure you don’t get stuck, check the health of your vehicle’s battery.
Pack Essential Safety Equipment
Nothing can sour a holiday trip faster than an unexpected roadside problem. Packing essential safety equipment can help you navigate any such situation.
Keep an emergency safety kit in your car, along with a spare tire and jack, in case you experience a mechanical issue. Also, ensure you have a compatible phone charger to keep your cell phone operational in an emergency.
If traveling through a winter storm is possible, throw in a shovel, blankets, and extra clothes.
Be Prepared for Inclement Weather
Inclement weather can come out of nowhere when driving in MInnesota, particularly during the holiday season. The more miles you drive and the longer you travel, the more chances you have to deal with adverse driving conditions caused by the weather.
Therefore, drivers must prepare for inclement weather. In addition to ensuring your vehicle is ready, review best practices for driving in severe weather, including leaving extra room between cars, reducing speed, and handling your vehicle if it starts to slide.
Don’t Drive Drunk or Distracted
Stay safe this holiday season by refraining from drinking and driving, and avoid being distracted while driving. Drunk driving is a significant reason why the days around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are among the deadliest.
Additionally, distracted driving, including the use of cell phones or other attention-diverters, causes thousands of vehicular deaths each year.
Consult a car accident attorney near me if you or a loved one is injured by a drunk or distracted driver this holiday season to ensure the party responsible for the accident is held accountable for any injuries or damages.
Drive Only When Well-Rested
Drivers who operate their vehicles while drowsy pose another risk, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting hundreds of fatalities each year under this cause. Due to longer trips and more nighttime driving, the risk of crashes due to drowsy driving increases around the holidays.
Therefore, drivers should ensure they sleep well before embarking on a long road trip. Additionally, they should make frequent stops to rest, eat, and stay hydrated so they may stay more alert when driving.
A St. Cloud auto accident attorney can provide legal guidance if you or a loved one is involved in a drowsy-driving accident.
Stay Calm and Patient Behind the Wheel
While the holiday season is meant to be joyful, it can also be stressful. Family gatherings, financial worries, and all that extra traffic test people’s patience this time of year.
Considering this, drivers are encouraged to stay calm and patient. Take deep breaths and remember that it’s better to be late than to get in an accident. If you see someone driving aggressively, give them extra space rather than try to engage them.
If aggressive driving results in an accident, a car crash lawyer in St. Cloud can provide legal guidance to help you navigate this unfortunate event.
Buckle Up!
No matter what precautions we take, car crashes do happen. Wearing your seatbelts is the best way to prevent or minimize injuries to you and your family in the unfortunate event of an accident.
If you are driving, buckle up and require all passengers to do the same. Keep children safe by having them sit in the back seats. Ensure younger children and babies sit in a properly fitted, secured car seat.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season!
You can enjoy the holidays this year by following these tips, knowing you are doing all you can on the roads to protect your loved ones.
If you are involved in an accident this holiday season, contact the leading car accident lawyer in St. Cloud, Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, to secure sound legal advice.
This car accident attorney near me helps keep the joy in the holiday season, even in an unfortunate accident.
