Thanksgiving Driving in Santa Clara County

Thanksgiving Driving in Santa Clara County

Holiday Driving Can be Dangerous

Last year AAA estimated that more than 39 million people were going to travel by car 50 or more miles for Thanksgiving. Closer to home, in Santa Clara County, a 66-year-old man driving a motor home along southbound 101 hit a metal guardrail along the side of the road and collided with a Toyota Corolla. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in the man’s death. Investigators determined the deceased driver had not been wearing his seat belt. They also believe he suffered from other health problems. Weather may have also contributed to the incident. Heavy holiday traffic, especially the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, is also commonly a contributing factor to serious accidents. According to AAA, about 37 percent of people travel that day, making it the heaviest day of holiday traffic. In 2013 the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that 44 people died from collisions on California roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday, a 37 percent increase over Thanksgiving 2012. Many were not wearing seat belts. The Thanksgiving holiday, measured from Wednesday through Sunday, is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for CHP.

Precautions you can take

Thanksgiving is a time to be with your loved ones. If you do plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, please take these common sense safety measures:

• • Wear your seat belt
  • Try to avoid traveling the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 26, 2014)
  • Obey the speed limit
  • Drive defensively
  • Put your full attention on the road
  • If you feel tired, have someone else drive or stop to rest

Do not drink and drive Do not take any unnecessary risks. Do all you can to arrive at your destination safely and enjoy the holiday.

Despite precautions, accidents happen

Even when exercising caution, an accident may still affect you and your loved ones in Santa Clara County or elsewhere. In these situations the personal injury attorneys of Golden State Lawyers can help you seek justice. We can assist you with filing a personal injury claim against those who caused you harm. If a loved one has died as a result of an accident, we can bring a wrongful death suit. In either situation, we conduct meticulous research into the facts of the case to determine the conditions that led to the accident. When necessary, we secure the assistance of accident reconstructionists, safety engineers, and medical professionals. We work to ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact us today to discuss your situation.