Research shows motor vehicle accidents spike in August

Missouri drivers who take to the road are unlikely to think about statistics of when it is the most dangerous time to be a motorist. There are certain times of day when common sense indicates it might be riskier than others, but these beliefs tend to be disproven by facts. One example is the frequency of motor vehicle crashes tending to spike in August. People might raise an eyebrow at the information, but researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety say that August is the month one is most likely to be in a fatal car accident.

In its study, the IIHS found that there are more than 15,900 deaths in crashes between 2012 and 2016 in August of those years. Other information showed that there were just short of 61,000 accidents in August 2016. This is higher than any single month in the time during which they accrued their numbers. Factors that were used to assess the danger of drivers being in a crash included the tendency to slam hard on the brake, sudden increases in speed and road congestion.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company also took part in the study and used its SmartRide program to gather data. Its vice president states that this information is designed to give drivers an idea as to how to drive more safely. The day in which it is the highest risk of fatality was found to be August 2. In a five-year time-frame, there were 505 deaths on that date. The time drivers are operating their vehicles in the most aggressive manner was between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Fridays. In the study, there were 600,000 members who took part and 1.3 million vehicles that are using SmartRide.

At first glance, it might seem irrelevant as to when the accident occurred when injuries and fatalities came about because of it. However, this information can be important when seeking compensation in a legal filing. Knowing when it is prime time to encounter a reckless driver, a drunk driver or a driver who might behave negligently can be vital keys to a lawsuit.

For people who have been injured or lost a loved one in a car crash, a legal filing can help to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, aftercare and more. Having legal help from a law firm that will understand motor vehicle accidents in relation to these statistics and assist in moving forward with a case is essential. This legal action could help one recover a monetary award that could address losses and damages caused by the accident.