Do Tractor-Trailer Accidents Increase During Summer?

The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known by highway traffic patrol, personal injury lawyers, and insurance companies as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. Of course, the first 100 days of last summer were not nearly as deadly, largely because there was so little traffic on the road. Traditionally, however, the summer months contribute more semi-truck accidents and deaths than any other season of the year, and there are a number of reasons for this. Below, we’ll take a look at those.

More traffic 

It makes a basic kind of common sense and statistics have borne this out, but the more vehicles there are on the road, the more likely it is that a semi-truck accident will occur. In fact, all sorts of accidents increase as the number of cars on the road increases.

The pandemic gave us renewed confidence to believe that the number of accidents was tied to the number of vehicles on the road. All types of accidents were reduced with less road traffic. However, accidents were more likely to be fatal, perhaps because fewer drivers on the road meant drivers thought they could speed. Whatever the reason, the number of fatal accidents during the pandemic did not go down as much as the number of overall accidents.

Road construction 

This is less of an issue in Florida, but our neighbors to the north do most of their roadwork during the summer. This increases the overall number of accidents as lanes are restricted, unfamiliar detours are put in place, and there’s simply less space to maneuver.

Tire blowout accidents 

Again, this is more of an issue for our neighbors to the north, but those folks are not driving expensive vehicles in the winter. Why? Because road salt will devour the underbelly. In other cases, RVs are used exclusively in the summer and motorcycles are only taken out of the garage when the roads are clear.

Seasonal vehicles often suffer tire blowout accidents because consumers, misled by the tire companies themselves, have a piece of paper that says their tire will last ten years so long as the tread is intact. However, tires harden with age, even when they’re not in use, and hard tires result in tire blowout accidents. So in the summer months, you may see more vehicles driving around with aged tires.

Vacation season 

Many folks like to head to Florida over the summer months, while older residents migrate here in the winter months. Who is worse when it comes to driving? As it turns out, the vacationers are worse. Driving in unfamiliar territory in major traffic is stressful and dangerous. As it turns out, your familiarity with an area is more of a determiner for the likelihood of an accident than your age.

Talk to a Florida Truck Accident Attorney Today 

The Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert litigate claims on behalf of motorists injured by negligent tractor-trailer truck drivers. Call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your situation in more detail.