St. Patrick’s Day Motor Vehicle User Information, Safety, Accidents

PREVENTING MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY 

In Miami, the car accidents lawyers at the Perazzo Law Firm, share useful information for preventing motor vehicle accidents and injuries this upcoming St. Patrick’s Day.

In Miami, the upcoming 2021 St. Patrick’s Day weekend is something most people are eagerly looking forward to as a chance to spend quality time with family and friends. When motorists celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, they must remember that the potential of being involved in an accident rises. According to the National Safety Council, 384 people will suffer a a fatal motor vehicle accident this St. Patrick’s Day. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact the well-being and safety Miami residents as more motor vehicles are expected across Florida roadways given that individuals will choose car travel as the preferred means of transportation. Sadly, passenger vehicles have the highest fatality rate on St. Patrick’s Day, according to statistics presented by the NSC.

One of the main reasons behind the rise in car accidents on St. Patrick’s Day is alcohol consumption. That is why the Perazzo Law Firm staff of car accident attorneys highly recommends assigning a designated driver or call a rideshare service such as Uber, Lyft, or Cabify. Though most motor vehicle accidents on St. Patrick’s Day involve human error, poor weather conditions can play an important part (See Bad Weather Accidents for safety recommendations).

To prevent car accidents in Miami this St. Patrick’s Day, the best accident lawyers in Miami will also suggest avoiding cell phone use while driving. Distracted drivers and negligent cell phone use rank second after drunk driving as the leading cause of car accidents in Miami. Staying off the phone by not texting and driving, using social media, or speaking unless using a hands-free device, will greatly lower the chances of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. According to the NSC study of data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that 2,841 people suffered fatal injuries due to distracted driving, this includes fatigue and intoxication.

Another measure aimed at lowering the death rate from car accidents over St. Patrick’s Day is the use of seatbelts and making sure they are fastened accordingly and function properly. The driver and all passengers must fasten the belt with the lap-belt low around the hips, while the shoulder belt should drape around the chest. Passengers should never place the shoulder belt under his/her armpit or behind their back as this could result in serious neck, shoulder, and back injuries.

Children and Car Seats

Automobile car or baby seats, according to the NHTSA, reduce the risk of suffering fatal injury by 71% in infants, and 54% for toddlers up to 4 years of age.

According to the NHTSA, the following guidelines should be met when restraining a child within a moving vehicle:

• Children under 1, should always be restrained within a rear-facing car seat.
• Children aged 1-to 3 must be kept in the baby seat for as much of the trip as possible.
• When children physically outgrow the rear-facing seat, they should be restrained in a forward-facing car seat with the appropriate harness and tether.
• Children 4- to 7 should ride in a forward-facing car seats until they outgrow the baby seat according to the  manufacturer’s recommendation and standards.
• Children 8- to 12 should ride in booster seats until they can be restrained effectively by the vehicle’s seat belt.

Common Car Accident Injuries

After a car accident in Miami, the Perazzo Law Firm and its professional staff of car accident lawyers, strongly urges car accident victims to seek medical care following a crash. This is recommended for those accident victims that have visible car accident injuries such as cuts, lacerations, or experiencing severe pain. Even if there are no evident signs of injury, sudden or severe impact can cause internal injuries to the head, neck, or back areas. These injuries may manifest themselves a few days after the accident. A medical evaluation is very helpful for an insurance claim if pain or discomfort develop over time (see What to do after a car accident in Miami).