| Holidays were created to allow us to relax from our | | | | trip, especially if it's going to be a long one. Check fluid |
| everyday cares and woes and enjoy ourselves with | | | | levels, get an oil change if its time, check your lights |
| friends and families. Unfortunately, as a personal injury | | | | and tires, and address any other ongoing mechanical |
| attorney practicing in Seattle, Washington, I see the | | | | problems that you may have been putting off. You |
| other tragic side of these yearly festivities - a spike in | | | | won't want to have to try and get them attended to if |
| car and motorcycle accidents, as well as a slew of | | | | you break down in the middle of nowhere! |
| cases involving personal injury and wrongful death. | | | | * STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES - Remember that |
| It's no secret that holiday driving can be deadly. We're | | | | middle-of-nowhere scenario we just mentioned above |
| usually warned on the news about upcoming holiday | | | | - and make sure you have everything you might need |
| weekends - the additional traffic put together with | | | | in your vehicle in case it happens to you. That includes |
| people celebrating a little too much can make a | | | | an emergency road kit, a first aid kit (one that's not |
| dangerous combination. | | | | twenty years old!), some cash, a flashlight, food and |
| But here's a statistic that might surprise you. While the | | | | water, and anything else that might come in handy. |
| most car accidents usually happen between Christmas | | | | * KNOW WHEN TO PULL OVER - On long driving |
| Eve and New Year's Day, the single most dangerous | | | | trips, we're often so anxious to get there, we ignore |
| day of the year to drive is the 4th of July. And the | | | | our own fatigue. Sleepiness leads to many car |
| second worst? July 3rd. According to the Insurance | | | | accidents that cause personal injury and wrongful |
| Institute for Highway Safety, 41 percent of those | | | | death. Don't endanger yourself, your loved ones and |
| deaths are caused by alcohol. | | | | other innocent motorists on the road - either pull over |
| If July 4th is the deadliest day to drive, what's the | | | | for a nap or check into a motel for the night. It's better |
| deadliest month? Again, you'll probably be surprised to | | | | to get to your destination a little later rather than not at |
| learn that it's August - a month that contains absolutely | | | | all. |
| no holidays. It is, however, when the most drivers take | | | | * KEEP YOUR COOL - Driving in the heat on |
| to the road, mostly for vacation trips. | | | | overcrowded roads - and facing numerous highway |
| Here are a few basic safe summer driving tips to | | | | construction slowdowns - can sometimes cause |
| make sure you and your family enjoy the vacation for | | | | drivers to overreact. Be polite and try to shrug off |
| which you've waited all year: | | | | those who aren't. Road rage only puts you and your |
| * PREP YOUR CAR - Before you even back out of | | | | passengers in peril without solving anything. |
| your driveway, make sure your car is ready for your | | | | |