The holiday season often means more traffic on the roads as people travel to visit family and friends. With more cars on the highways, the risk of being involved in a car accident also increases significantly during the holidays, especially in major metro areas such as Birmingham.

Holiday Travel Increases Accidents on Alabama Roads

Many factors contribute to the spike in car accidents seen annually on Birmingham area roadways during the holiday season:

More cars on the road – With schools closed and people off work, many local Birmingham residents take holiday road trips out of town to visit family and friends, crowding highways.
Out-of-town travelers – Birmingham’s central location sees many out-of-state drivers passing through on I-20, I-59, and I-65 during holiday trips, increasing traffic.
Rush to get places – Holiday celebrations, parties, and family events encourage rushing and speeding to get to destinations on time, causing mistakes.
Shoppers – Malls like the Riverchase Galleria get packed during holiday sales, and all that traffic leads to a lot of accidents.
Poor weather – Birmingham frequently sees freezing rain and occasionally snow around the holidays which makes roads slick and visibility poor, increasing accidents.
Travel fatigue – Many drivers get less rest trying to pack in multiple holiday activities and trips, leading to drowsy driving.
Alcohol use – Many holiday parties involve drinking which impairs judgment and reaction times for the drive home, causing numerous DUI crashes.

Injuries Sustained in Birmingham Holiday Car Crashes

The force of impact involved in auto accidents, especially at higher holiday travel speeds, can inflict severe injuries on drivers and passengers. These include:

Traumatic brain injuries – Impact on the head causes bruising, bleeding, and swelling of the brain. These head injuries cause lasting issues like amnesia, headaches, and cognitive impairment.
Spinal cord damage – Sudden stopping motions in crashes can fracture vertebrae and pinch the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis below the injury site.
Internal organ damage – Impact from steering wheels, dashboards, and seat belts can rupture or lacerate the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and other organs.
Broken bones – Fractures of hands, arms, feet, legs, hips, and ribs are very common in car accident injuries as the body is thrown around.
Lacerations – Shattered glass from windshields and windows as well as jagged, crushed metal causes deep cuts requiring stitches and surgery to treat. Large scars can remain.
Whiplash – Rapid acceleration-deceleration in rear-end crashes strains neck muscles and ligaments leading to pain, stiffness, headaches, and nerve damage.

Seeking immediate medical care after a car crash is vital to get injured people proper diagnostic testing, pain management, and treatments to stabilize the injuries and maximize the chances of a full recovery. Consulting an auto accident attorney is also advisable to pursue compensation from any liable parties.

How to Stay Safe on Birmingham Roads this Holiday Season

Drivers in Birmingham can take certain precautions over the holidays to reduce the chances of being involved in an accident:

Allow extra time – Plan routes ahead of time and give yourself plenty of extra drive time to accommodate holiday traffic around destinations.
Avoid distractions – Refrain from cell phone use and minimize loud music or other disruptions to keep focus on the road.
Don’t drink and drive – Arrange for a designated driver, ride share, or taxi if alcohol will be involved with holiday parties. Never drive impaired.
Get enough rest – Fatigue and drowsiness degrades driving abilities quickly. Make sure you get adequate sleep before any long drives.
Watch your speed – Respect all posted speed limits and reduced speed zones in construction and business areas. The few minutes saved speeding are not worth a crash.
Increase following distance – Leave ample room between your vehicle and the one ahead to provide a margin for error and more reaction time.
Check your vehicle – Make sure brakes, tires, and lights are all in good shape before holiday road trips. Headlights are critical for seeing in rain or snow.
Buckle up – Wearing seat belts and properly adjusting head restraints is the best protection if a crash does occur. Have all passengers buckled up.
Avoid aggression – Driving peacefully and defensively prevents escalation of any conflicts with other drivers.

Following these tips will help reduce the likelihood of being involved in a car accident during the hectic holiday season in the Birmingham area.

Drive Safely this Holiday Season

The holiday period, unfortunately, sees substantially increased risks of car accidents on Birmingham, AL roads. Being alert to the hazards and following safe driving practices is key to avoiding a crash this time of year. If an accident does occur, seek medical help for any injuries right away and consult an experienced attorney to protect your rights to compensation.