The holidays are often a time for celebration and fun. Unfortunately, they are also a time when injury risk increases. Some people travel with their families to visit loved ones during the holidays. Others take advantage of time away from school or work to enjoy a brief vacation.
Those traveling around Christmas and New Year’s Day are at elevated risk of a collision. According to the National Safety Council, both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day see elevated drunk driving risk. The overall volume of traffic on the roads around the holidays can also lead to preventable collisions.
New Year’s Day tends to be a bit more dangerous than Christmas, but both days see dozens of fatalities and thousands of injuries. What can people do after a holiday car wreck?
Communicate about the other driver’s fault
One of the most common mistakes people make after a crash is to apologize or admit partial fault. Particularly around the holidays, people often want to be kind and gracious to one another.
Kindness can backfire in a car crash scenario, as the driver at fault could blame the other party involved because of their apology or statements. The risk of both drunk and distracted driving is higher around the holidays as people celebrate with alcohol and rely on their mobile phones to stay in touch or navigate unfamiliar roads.
When people believe that another motorist caused a crash through intoxication or distraction, they generally need to communicate that to a police officer. That way, the officer can properly investigate the crash.
See a doctor as soon as possible
Many standard businesses close for extended periods around the holidays. People may not be able to make last-minute appointments with their primary care physicians around Christmas and New Year’s Day. Instead, they may need to go to the emergency room or an urgent care facility after a car crash.
They need a doctor to diagnose and treat their injuries. Once they have a diagnosis, it is of the utmost importance that they follow through with treatment and keep a record of their medical expenses. They also need medical records affirming their injuries. Proof of crash-related injuries can help people hold others accountable after a major motor vehicle collision.
People generally need to avoid speaking with insurance companies until after they have discussed their crash with a lawyer. They may need an attorney to handle the insurance claims process on their behalf. Having support when dealing with the aftermath of a holiday car crash can help drivers and their passengers. People affected by collisions often need help holding others accountable for unsafe behavior in traffic.