The sun is shining, teens are out of school, and vacations loom ahead during the summer. While you may be anticipating relaxing during this time, know that there is never a good time to let your guard down and put safety on the back burner.

In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there is a higher risk of getting into a car accident in Denver and needing a Denver car accident lawyer during the summer, compared to other months of the year. Here are four reasons why car crashes occur more frequently during summer and how you can reduce your risk of being injured.

More Drunk Drivers on the Road

Summer is the season for socializing with friends and having pool parties, backyard barbecues, and holiday get-togethers. Many gatherings involve alcoholic beverages, which can inevitably lead to more drunk drivers on the road.

Every day in the U.S., about 28 people lose their lives in drunk driving accidents. But during certain holidays, like the Fourth of July, this number increases. Between 2010 and 2014, drunk driving contributed to 47% of all car crash deaths during the Fourth of July holiday.

If you are drinking outside of your home this summer, plan ahead to avoid drinking and driving. For instance, designate a sober driver or call a rideshare vehicle to get home. Likewise, social hosts should ensure that those who have consumed alcohol at their homes are not driving afterward.

Inexperienced Teen Drivers

Year after year, the number of fatal teen accidents increases during the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer”—the time between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September. According to the AAA Foundation, more than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers during this time in 2016.

The most common causes of these accidents include speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and nighttime driving. Parents, remember that your newly-licensed teen drivers are still learning essential safety skills. It’s important that you educate them on safe driving practices and set rules that limit the potential for risky driving, such as:

• Only letting them drive during daylight hours
• Limiting the number of passengers they are allowed to transport at once
• Making them pledge to drive without distractions (i.e., putting their phones on “do not disturb” mode while driving)

Increased Traffic and Road Congestion

During summer, students are on break and working adults commonly take time off of work to go on vacation. As a result, traffic increases during the summer because there are more motorists, truckers, and motorcycle riders traveling at once. More cars in close proximity to one another inherently leads to more collisions.

If you are traveling on the road this summer, make sure to always share the road and practice defensive driving. This means you should reduce your speed, increase your buffer, eliminate distractions, and never engage in road rage or other aggressive driving behaviors.

More Construction Projects Underway

Summertime is also known as construction season. This is because construction projects typically get started while the weather is warm and completed before the colder months ahead. With more construction, it’s common for there to be road delays, lane closures, detours, temporary signs and signals, and other road hazards.

These complicated driving conditions can cause confusion and increase the risk of a crash. Always proceed with caution when driving through a construction zone. You can also check the city’s traffic report online to see if there are any construction projects underway so that you can make necessary detours in your route.

Injured in a Summertime Accident?

Because car crashes increase during the summertime, knowing what to do after the fact can help you take steps to protect yourself and your rights to compensation. At Larson Larimer Schneider, P.C., our legal team is standing by ready to advocate on your behalf.

We hope that you never need our services, but if you do, know that we’re here to help you get your life back on track and guide you through the claims process from start to finish.