Memorial Day Weekend 2023 – Ways to Stay Safe When Navigating the Roads
Memorial Day takes place the last Monday in May every year.
Memorial Day is a holiday that remembers and honors the brave people who died servicing America. Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by congress in 1971.
Memorial Day is also observed by many as the unofficial start of summer.
A three-day weekend for some, those off on Memorial day Monday might enjoy spending time with family or friends during the extended break. Some will even embark on road trips.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimated a total of 450 motor vehicle related deaths over Memorial Day weekend in 2022. This is an 18 percent increase from 2019.
There are various potential causes for Memorial Day car accidents. A major reason is drunk driving.
In 2020, 41% of Memorial Day car accident fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. According to the NSC, this is the highest since 2012 and the third highest since 2001.
Even though numbers have greatly decreased since the 1980’s, the numbers are increasing over the last few years.
Drunk drivers often display erratic behavior while behind the wheel. You may see a drunk driver:
- Veering in and out of lanes
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Not stopping at stop signs
- Going through red lights, stopping at green lights
Drinking alcohol can greatly decrease a driver’s reaction time and decision-making ability.
If you come in contact with a drunk driver on Memorial Day weekend, don’t interact with them. Stay behind the car, pull over to the side of the road when safe to do so, and call 911 to report the driver.
Another common cause of accidents over Memorial Day weekend can be drowsy driving.
It’s not rare for people to drive for long periods of time to get to their destination. Without adequate rest, they run the risk of losing focus, or even falling asleep behind the wheel.
Some studies claim that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving.
Drowsy driving can reach a wide spectrum, with signs such as:
- Drifting between lanes
- Riding close to other vehicles
- Missing stop signs or other traffic signals
If you are driving over the Memorial Day weekend, don’t disregard sleep. While it may be tempting to enjoy the long time off, sleep is still vital to your well-being.
If you feel like you are driving while drowsy, you can always pull over to a safe spot for a power nap. The general rule of thumb for the length of a power nap is about 20-30 minutes.
Regardless of the cause, there are certain steps you can take following a car accident to help your safety:
- Don’t exit the vehicle unless staying in it could cause you further damage. Call 911.
- Once they arrive, communicate with any police officers at the scene. Be honest with any questions an officer may have.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t appear to have any significant injuries.
- Take photos, videos, and notes of any damage to your vehicle, any other vehicles involved in the accident, and the surrounding area, like roads, street signs, etc.
- Get information from the other driver, including their name, phone number, drivers license, registration, and license plate number.
Frequent injuries following a car accident include:
- Neck and head injuries like whiplash or a concussion
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Deep cuts or wounds that scar or disfigure the skin
- Damage to vital internal organs
- Internal bleeding
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
- Wrongful death
The Memorial Day weekend is a major time for injuries and fatalities from car accidents. If you suffered a personal injury following a car crash traveling for Memorial Day, you may be entitled to compensation.
C&B Law Group is composed of LA attorneys with decades of combined experience helping car accident victims recover millions of dollars for their injuries.
With offices in Burbank and Downtown LA, we service clients all across Los Angeles and Southern California.
Traveling this Memorial Day? Stay safe
If you are injured, contact C&B Law Group to learn more about a free consultation regarding your case
