Temporal Factors in Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths

Car Accident

Car accidents can happen at any time, and almost always when you least expect it. The impact of a collision could lead to relatively minor harm to vehicle occupants like whiplash and bumps or bruises, or could result in severe and potentially fatal injuries.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that there were over 3,700 fatal car accidents on Texas roadways in a single recent year. With thousands of people dead and countless others left grieving, it is crucial to understand how these accidents happen and what can be done to prevent others from occurring.

Common Times and Reasons for Car Accident Fatalities

Statistics indicate that certain factors can greatly increase the chances of being involved in a fatal car crash. These factors are called temporal factors, and they simply refer to factors like time of day, day of the week, and season.

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis has calculated the four deadliest days for motorists to be on the roads. Those days are:

  • July 3
  • July 4
  • December 23
  • December 24

The deadliest days for pedestrians on the roads are:

  • December 23
  • January 1
  • October 31

It is little wonder that the deadliest days for motorists and pedestrians fall on holidays where caution may be at an all-time low, and drinking alcohol is at an all-time high.

While those single days may have the highest number of fatalities, several other studies suggest the number of car crashes rises during the six major holiday periods in the United States, which include:

  • New Year’s Eve
  • Memorial Day
  • Fourth of July
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas

It probably comes as no surprise that high traffic and high alcohol-consuming times, like holidays, are a deadly combination. However, other factors can contribute to higher rates in car accident fatalities as well.

A study published in The National Center for Biotechnology Information finds that on average most car crash fatalities occur in July and August – about 116 per day. It also outlines that the most fatal days of the week are the weekends, and the hours of the day with the most fatalities occur between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

What Does the Data Mean?

What does all this information mean? Should we live like hermits and stay off the roads during holidays and weekends? Should we rearrange our work and school schedules and keep off the roads after 3 p.m.?

Perhaps the takeaway should be that we all need to use a little more caution out on the roads, especially during times when we know accidents are more likely to happen. No matter the time, place, or how it happened, there is one constant when it comes to the impact of a car crash fatality – it always leaves behind a grieving family.

Contact Tate Law Offices, P.C.

At Tate Law Offices, P.C., we understand the trauma that loved ones feel following a fatal car accident. There is confusion, anger, and grief as you grapple with the loss of a loved one and the hardship that someone’s negligence has caused you and your family.

If your loved one has died as the result of a motor vehicle accident that was someone else’s fault, please consider calling Tate Law Offices, P.C. Our attorneys can help you seek the compensation your family deserves and hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.