What Time Of Year Do Most Car Accidents Happen In Minnesota?

This is a sponsored post from Tyroler Law Firm.

Fewer Car Accident Fatalities versus Increased Car Accidents?

Minnesota’s Motor Vehicle Department admits that the statistics of car accidents are broken down into two categories. 

• The months that see the most deadly car crashes are during the winter.
• The months that see an increase in car crashes, but fewer deaths are during the summer.

While this state sees increased car crashes during the summer months, it is during the harsh winter months that there are increased deaths.

Winter driving throughout Minnesota poses different safety risks and hazards. These risks include icy, snow-covered road conditions. Drivers rarely consider the hazardous road conditions in those car crashes nor do the majority of drivers adjust their speed or use extra caution. 

Every winter, the state of Minnesota sees harsh months of extreme weather. These winter months in Minnesota can be nail-biting when you drive on the icy roads. 

Is The COVID Pandemic the Cause?

If you are an avid news tracker, it seems as though the COVID pandemic bears the brunt of many of America’s problems, including the increased number of car accidents during the summer on Minnesota’s roadways. The following were seen and recorded during the last year and a half prior to 2022.

Reports show that over the last four years, before COVID, car accident fatalities numbered about 70 people. The first few months of 2020 reported nearly 400 deaths involving car accidents. 

COVID brought more lockdowns, meaning they noticed a dramatic drop in roadway traffic. People were driving for essentials only, and most businesses allowed their employees to work remotely from home whenever possible. The Public Safety Administration believed they would see a decrease in car accidents due to the pandemic and were mistaken. 

The people who were driving during the pandemic drove fewer miles from home. Minnesota’s Public Safety Administration saw there were fewer drivers on the roads. The ones that did travel were speeding and presenting other risky driving behaviors, resulting in increased reported car accidents. 

Increased Car Accidents During the Winter Months

According to Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety, this state was headed toward becoming the deadliest year yet on its roadways in 2021, with nearly 400 fatalities from car accidents. This number represented almost a 25 percent increase in car accidents since 2007. 2021 calculations showed that there would be about 40,000 injuries in addition to the 400 facilities already reported. 

Many of these victims experience a forever life-changing accident. The following problematic issues are targeted as the reasons for this increase, with speeding sitting in the number one position followed by,

• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving such as eating, loud music, watching videos while driving, cell phone use, texting, and driving
• No seat belt 

Summer Driving Shows an Increased Death Rate from Car Accidents

DriversEd.com states the following problematic areas of drivers, no matter if Minnesota is in the summer or winter seasons. Summer presents an enlightened joy and freedom from the harsh winter days spent inside. Summer is full of activities and fun in the sun, anticipating the long lazy summer, especially for the inexperienced teen driver.

The road rules and safety precautions taught to teens during drivers’ education are often forgotten during the summer months, which is another factor for increased car accidents at this time of year. 

• The warmer summer month of August brings the most deadly car accidents. 
• September and June, and Memorial Day to Labor Day are deadly months for drivers.  

Winter Months Report Increased Car Accidents with Decreased Deaths 

Please consider utilizing our following tips to decrease Minnesota’s car accidents during the winter months.

• Avoid driving when road conditions are poor. If you must go when conditions are hazardous, make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are cleaned off. 
• Use your seatbelt.
• Keep children appropriately belted. 
• Never go over the posted speed limits.
• Drive slower on icy, snow-covered roads.
• Assure a safe distance of at least three to five lengths between you and the car in front of you.
• Always be prepared for an emergency stop, remove your foot from the gas pedal and gently pump your breaks when the roads are slippery. However, if you have an anti-lock brake system, you do not want to pump the breaks; instead, apply steady pressure. Turn your steering wheel to head the front of your car in the needed direction.
• Avoid using cruise control when roads are slippery.
• Stock your car with blankets, scrapers, brush, shovel, tow chain, sand, jumper cables, snacks, extra water, energy bars, food, warm clothing, boots, and a flashlight.
• Have a cell phone and charger.
• Keep the gas at the full mark as much as possible.
• Stay in your car when stranded on the road to prevent further accidents.
• Keep tuned to the weather channel.

Defensive Driving

While you may think that you are the safest driver on the road and protect your passengers by abiding by all safety standards, you may forget to be observant of other drivers around you who may be increasing your risk of a car accident. While you cannot control how other people drive, you can cut these risks of car accidents caused by someone else if you,

• Adjust your schedule and avoid traffic congestion and the roads presenting a higher risk for car accidents.
• Stay alert at all times to other drivers around you. 
• Ensure you abide by all traffic rules and give your time behind the wheel your full attention.
• Know the most dangerous times to drive on the road are from 5 pm to 7 pm. The evening rush hour increases road congestion and risky driving behaviors because people want to get home. 
• Know the other dangerous driving times are from midnight to 4 am, when there is an increased risk for fatalities. Drivers must consider that some days of the week report increased car accidents. That day was Saturday. Statistics show that there is frequently twice the number of reported accidents than any other day during a workweek. 
• Another day that shows increased car accidents is the Fourth of July. You are safer if you stay home. Be extra observant of your driving behaviors if you need to drive, keeping your eyes glued to the drivers around you. You may be able to help avoid a car accident caused by a negligent driver. Statistics from the DriverEd.com report that the average number of fatalities is close to 1000 people, considering all state averages. Out of all the holidays, Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest traveling holidays on the road. Drivers must,
• Plan your route well in advance of the holiday.
• Stay extra alert and observant of other drivers.
• Adjust driving habits and speed when road conditions become risky.
• Realize that highways are more congested and present untold accident risks, and are not the safest place to drive. Surprisingly, the rural roads report a higher number of car accident fatalities. There are fewer drivers on these roads. Drivers tend to speed and take unnecessary risks, resulting in increased car accidents. 

Our esteemed negligent accident injury attorneys embrace educating drivers of all ages. We believe that all drivers in Minnesota must know the most dangerous times and days of the year to be on the road. We embrace giving valuable tips to help you avoid becoming an accident victim or a fatality in a car accident on one of Minnesota’s roads. 

• Never take risky chances when behind the wheel.
• Be observant of the dangerous times to drive.
• Embrace traffic rules, regulations, and speeds.
• Always practice defensive driving with confidence.
• Look out for other drivers.
• It never hurts to take a defensive driving program to refresh your driving skills. Technologies and driving techniques tend to change. These programs help you to keep up with these changes.
• Always remain calm in all situations and do not panic. Panic causes unwanted actions and harm.

Your Minnesota Negligent Accident, Injury, Death Attorneys

No accident happens without an element of negligence by a person (s) or company. Negligent severe accidents can be forever life-changing and traumatic. These accidents take a lot away from the victim, and the situation becomes overwhelming. Accident victims may lose the following:

• Self-confidence and self-esteem
• Valuable property
• Loss of livelihood, wages, job, quality of life 
• Ruin relationships
• Cause exorbitant, mounting medical bills
• Bankruptcy
• Loss of your home

If you fall victim to a negligent car accident in Minnesota, our award-winning attorneys want to help you recoup your losses. We want to hear your story and try to help you and your family recognize our victims’ rights. We stand ready to help and guide families who lost you in a negligent car accident. We understand grief and are sensitive to surviving family members.

Never fight for your rights without a licensed, seasoned Minnesota attorney. We help you understand the dos and don’ts when dealing with unscrupulous insurance companies and their tactics to not pay you or pay you less than the appropriate compensation for all of this extra and unexpected debt. 

Your car insurance company and its agents are not your friends, even though they seem sympathetic to your situation. They do not want to pay you fair and reasonable compensation. Because Minnesota laws are complicated and complex, most victims are at a loss about what to do when they become car accident victims. 

If you or a family member becomes injured in a car accident, please allow us to use our experience and expertise to guide you through the claims process. We worked hard to gain a trusting relationship with the communities and victims we serve so proudly. We have an impressive track record for winning negligent accident cases for our victims.

• Never fight insurance companies and their attorneys alone. You can never win your compensation case.
• Your first call to use is a free, no-obligation consultation to review your accident case. You do not pay us until you win your compensation case. If you do not win, you do pay us.
• We are always prepared to go to court and use aggressive measures if we cannot settle a fair and appropriate claim out of court. Sometimes the mention of a court case is enough for insurance companies to offer a more reasonable settlement that fits your needs and pays all past, present, and future bills associated with your car accident. We recover economic and non-economic damage.
• We take all of the work and worry off your shoulders. We do an in-depth investigation and communicate with insurance companies, attorneys, police, and doctors. We stress to you not to worry because your case is in experienced hands.
• Your responsibility is to heal. 

Call us as soon as possible after your car accident so we can hear the facts and start our investigation. There are many issues to cover, and we need to work for you as soon as possible. The burden of proof of negligent car accidents always falls on the victim’s shoulders. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you. 

We proudly serve Oakdale, Minnesota, and surrounding communities. If you have a winning case, we can win a fair and equitable settlement for you.

This is a sponsored post from Tyroler Law Firm.