In the coming weeks, many North Carolina residents will travel throughout the state (and, perhaps, even to other states) to visit friends and family as other drivers flock to visit their friends and family living here. With so many drivers using the roadways at once, your odds of being involved in a car accident increase. Most drivers know or have been informed about the dangers of texting while driving and the risk of car accidents. However, the holiday season presents drivers with other potential distractions that can lead to the same severe consequences as texting while driving.
Common Holiday Driving Distractions
If you are traveling this holiday season (in-state or across the country), you may encounter one or more of the following holiday distractions. Any one of these distractions can divert your attention and body parts from the task of driving, thereby dramatically increasing the likelihood of a car crash:
Holiday Lights
When driving at night, holiday light displays can be quite a sight. However, in the time it takes you to appreciate these displays while driving, you and your vehicle can easily travel several hundred feet. If you see a holiday light display that catches your attention, pull off to the side of the road to appreciate it more fully and more safely.
Food and Platters
Your famous casserole or hors d’oeuvres can cause a dangerous distraction if they are not properly secured. A sudden stop or hard turn can send food flying across the car, causing you to take your eyes and attention off the road. In some cases, a container of food may interfere with your ability to manipulate the accelerator or brake pedal. Consider storing food in a container that will not shift during transit or in the trunk or an area of the car other than the passenger compartment.
Songs and Carols
Be cautious if you and your family enjoy singing carols and holiday songs in the car. While these tunes can certainly be catchy (and the words are often well-known), singing while the radio plays can keep you from noticing a car horn, a police car’s or ambulance’s siren, and other potential hazards. Be certain while driving that the radio and singing volume is not so low that you cannot hear what is happening around you.
It is important to remain vigilant and mindful that just because you choose to drive safely does not mean other drivers will do the same. Be sure to drive defensively and be aware of what other cars and vehicles are doing.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm for Help
If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, contact an OBX car accident lawyer to see the damages you may be due. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement.
North Carolina has a statute of limitations for how long victims have to file a claim for damages against those responsible for their injuries, so do not delay. Failure to file before that legal deadline could mean you lose any chance of ever filing your claim or getting justice against the person responsible for you or your loved one’s injuries.
The legal team from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has been advocating for injured clients since 1985 and will do all we can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case, like the $200,000 personal injury insurance settlement we obtained for one client who suffered a broken hip and a fractured vertebra when a highly intoxicated driver crashed into his car.
Call our office for a free case evaluation. For your convenience, we have offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.