The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer | Stats and Facts You Need to Know

Summertime is very popular and hosts many festivals, barbecues, parties, and lots of outdoor activities that often lead many to drink all day and night long.

The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day have been called the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers” by researchers. This infamous nickname is because, during these 100 days, car accidents and fatal car accidents are at an all-time high for the year.

These 100 days being so deadly result from more people, specifically teen drivers on break from school, out on the road. The increased traffic means the number of distracted drivers also increases, which is one of the leading causes of fatal car crashes.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Parents should have a serious conversation with their teenage drivers about the danger of distracted driving and the importance of safe driving. We also have some tips and guidelines for anyone wanting to drive safely during such a dangerous time.

Confirm your vehicle or child’s vehicle has a high safety rating and is safe to drive.
Require your child and any passengers to wear a seatbelt at all times.
Ensure your child will not use their cell phone while driving.
Ensure your child is familiar with every aspect of the vehicle your child will be driving.
Set a curfew for your child so they are not on the road during the most dangerous time, midnight to 5 a.m.
Enroll your teenager in an interactive teen driver safety program so that they become a safe, confident, and responsible driver.

TIPS TO KEEP DRIVERS SAFE:

Limit Riders – Crash risk increased by 158% with two more passengers in the vehicle.
Follow the Speed Limit – In 33% of fatal teen crashes, speed is a factor. By following the speed limit and being attentive on the road, we can limit the likelihood of being involved in an accident.
Remove Distractions – It can wait. Pull off the road if you must answer your phone.
Be attentive – a fatal outcome can be triggered in a second of inattentiveness. If possible, study your trip’s route ahead of time better to prepare yourself for traffic conditions or road hazards.
Limit Driving at Night – Some dangerous factors that increase accidents at night are inexperienced drivers, reduced visibility, and drowsiness.
Wear a Seat Belt – a seatbelt may be the life-saving difference in crashes, so encourage all to wear their seatbelt to limit injuries.
Don’t drive under the influence – Basic skills like attention, perception, coordination, and reaction time can all be altered by using drugs or alcohol. Always have a backup plan for a way to get home safely.

MOST COMMON CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES

Knowing what to look for if you or a loved one is in a car accident is a helpful tool in assessing and treating injuries. Here are some of the most common car accident injuries in Houston.

Head Injuries

Head injuries are some of the most common car accident injuries and also some of the most dangerous. Head injuries result from the strong impact on the skull and face. In mild cases, you may have a concussion. However, in more severe cases, you may develop hearing loss or brain damage.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are impact injuries that affect your brain and can cause lasting effects. On the mild end, traumatic brain injuries can last temporarily, while on the more severe end, they can cause numbness or permanent nerve damage.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are those injuries that occur in a car accident when you suffer a blow to the neck. These can be very dangerous because of the neck’s proximity to the spinal cord. A neck injury can also include muscle or ligament damage.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries occur when damage is done to the spinal cord, one of the major nerve centers in your body. Your spinal cord affects your mobility and control of your limbs. Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent changes in strength and paralysis.

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries result from flames or heat from car accidents making contact with the skin. Burn injuries can be first, second, or third degree and have corresponding levels of severity.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries refer to injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These “soft tissues” in the body may be damaged from exercise, sports, or in some cases, car accidents.

Fractures

Fractures are breaks, usually of bones. Fractures can result from sudden impacts, as in car accidents. They can also be the result of low bone density or osteoporosis.

Lacerations

Lacerations are scrapes, cuts, or scratches across the body. Lacerations usually refer to cuts that are deeper and caused by sharp objects like shards of glass, which can be common if your windows or windshield shatter on impact.

Internal Organ Damage

Internal organ damage is a type of injury that is not always visible. This can happen in car accidents with violent impacts and include internal abdominal bleeding or organ punctures. These need to be treated in a hospital or by medical professionals immediately.

Nerve Damage

Nerve damage is one of the most dangerous effects of violent car accidents. Nerve damage can be permanent or can last a long time and can cause paralysis, numbness, and tingling.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common neck and nerve injury that can result from a car accident or even from an abrupt car braking. Whiplash is usually not severe and can cause temporary numbness or tingling.

Arm & Leg Injuries

Arm and leg injuries are some of the most common car accident injuries. These extremities can suffer bruising, lacerations, sprains, and fractures.

Penetrating Injuries

Penetrating injuries are wounds that result on the body from objects piercing the skin or muscle. This includes punctures, cuts, scrapes, and even impalement.

DELAYED CAR CRASH INJURIES

You may not realize your car accident injuries right away. Directly after the fact, you may notice injuries like fractures, bruising, laceration, or penetration wounds. However, you should be on the lookout for delayed symptoms of injury. These delayed symptoms can indicate harsh damage, so you should take them seriously. Some of the delayed symptoms you could experience include the following:

Difficulty concentrating or remembering information
Clouded thinking
Headaches
Blurry vision
Dizziness or nausea
Lack of energy
Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping

If you experience the above symptoms, it could mean that you have lasting, invisible damage from your car accident and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. They could point to a traumatic brain injury or nerve damage.

How Does Emotional Distress Factor into My Auto Accident Case?

Anyone who has been in a car accident before knows that the event can cause lasting emotional damage and distress. This emotional distress does factor into your Tyler auto accident case. A good personal injury lawyer will inform you of all the costs you are eligible to recover as the victim of a car accident. This does include pain and suffering, which should include a payout for the emotional distress and mental trauma of your car accident.

What Should I Do if My Teenaged Child or I Are Involved?

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION – In any case, where someone is injured, it is imperative to seek proper medical attention and cooperate with all first responders. Once you have tended to your injuries, you can concern yourself with other aspects of the motorcycle accident.

REPORT THE ACCIDENT – After you have tended to injuries, you should make sure the accident is reported correctly to the local law enforcement department.

EXCHANGE CONTACT INFORMATION – If possible, exchange contact information, including name, telephone number, email, and home address, with everyone involved in the accident. This will make future dealings with insurance agencies and legal counsel much easier.

RECORD EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THE CRASH – Take pictures of everything at the accident site, including damage to cars and the motorcycle. You should also contact anyone who witnessed the accident to get their eyewitness account.

KEEP ALL RECEIPTS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR ACCIDENT – If you had to incur numerous medical costs associated with your injuries from the accident, keep the hospital or doctor’s records. You should also keep receipts for any other payments made due to the accident and keep a written record of any changes to your job status.

SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL – If you were not at fault for the accident, it is crucial to contact a personal injury attorney. You may be eligible to recover some of the financial damages you incurred from your injury with the help of a lawyer.

If you or your teen is involved in an auto accident, whether in this period of time or not, it’s essential to know what to do.

Herrman & Herrman, PLLC Logo

Contact Herrman & Herrman P.L.L.C. at 361.882.4357

Our firm is equipped with over 100 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases across Texas. Our outstanding record of favorable settlements and verdicts includes over 20,000 successfully resolved cases. Once we take on a case, we are relentless, and you can rely on us to pursue full compensation for you.

You can trust our attorneys to be compassionate and professional.
We will fight hard to obtain a fair settlement for you.
Our firm represents the injured and families who have lost a loved one due to others’ negligent acts.
We serve as counsel in a range of injury cases – including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, premises liability cases, product liability cases, and medical malpractice claims.
We have the ability to dispatch the Herrman & Herrman Accident Investigative Team to the crash scene to start an investigation and preserve critical evidence.