Drivers need to be aware of their surroundings and practice defensive driving anytime they head out on the roadway. However, there are specific days when individuals should remain extra vigilant when they get behind the wheel. Not only are their certain months that are more dangerous for drivers in Michigan, but there are specific holidays where law enforcement officials see an increase in injury and fatal accidents.
Which Days and Months are the Most Dangerous?
When we examine the information available from the Michigan Department of Transportation, we can see that vehicle accidents in the state are more likely to occur in the months of October and November, with approximately 30,000 accidents occurring in each of those months during the latest reporting year. The months with the least amount of accidents statistically tend to be March and April. In 2021, the month with the most traffic fatalities was August, with 124 motor vehicle accident deaths.
If we look deeper into the 2021 crash data, we can see that more accidents occurred on Fridays, with the least amount of accidents tending to occur on Sundays.
Looking at Holidays
If we examine specific holidays to look at an increase in traffic fatalities, the state DOT focuses specifically on Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. The data analyzes the days of these holidays as well as a few days before and after the holidays to look for an increase in traffic crashes and fatalities. The data does show that traffic accidents tend to rise around these major holidays, often due to the increase in impaired driving.
Staying Safe on Michigan Roadways
Drivers operating on the roadways throughout Michigan can typically expect to get from point A to point B safely. However, it is crucial to practice defensive driving tactics, particularly in areas of high congestion and during times when there are typically increases in traffic accidents and fatalities.
We encourage all drivers to follow a few steps before they head out on the roadways. First, always ensure you have the required insurance for the state of Michigan. Michigan is a no-fault state. This means that drivers who reside in Michigan typically turn to their own insurance policy to recover compensation after an accident occurs, regardless of which party caused the crash. There are various injury and dollar amount thresholds that would allow individuals to file a claim directly against another driver, but that is not the most common route of compensation recovery.
In the state of Michigan, every driver is responsible for carrying the following types of insurance:
- Bodily injury liability coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage of $10,000
- Property protection of $1 million
- Unlimited personal injury protection (various deductibles)
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver on Michigan roadways, we encourage you to reach out to a skilled Southfield car accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help you work through the claim and recover compensation either from your own insurance carrier or through a claim against another driver or party.
The post The Most Dangerous Days To Be On The Road In Michigan appeared first on Haque Legal.