Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest and dangerous weekends for travel.
Based on new AAA projections based on bookings for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises shows Labor Day weekend travel in 2023 is up over last year: domestic bookings are up 4% and international bookings are up 44%.
The top 5 domestic destinations are Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York, and Las Vegas. Seattle tourism has been boosted by the strong demand for Alaska cruises. AAA data shows domestic cruise bookings over Labor Day weekend are up 19% compared to 2022.
And, while Labor Day is a time for family and vacation with family before the school year begins, it is also a time of increased automobile and travel accidents – even if you take precautions!
If you’ve been in a collision, What Should You Do?
1. Call Law Enforcement
The at-fault driver may dispute their role in the collision leaving an injured motorist or passenger struggling to prove their innocence. Law enforcement is not required to prepare an accident report in every case; therefore, call law enforcement in the event of a collision and ask that they take statements and prepare a report. You don’t always know the extent of vehicle damage or injuries until days later, and sometimes memories fade, so you should make a complete record of the incident at the time that it happens.
2. Exchange Information
Be sure to exchange driver’s license, insurance and registration information with the other automobiles involved in the collision. “Too often we are tracking down information about other drivers, cars and witnesses,” said Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP Attorney and Partner Todd Rayan.
3. Get More Information
Take photographs of the automobiles and scene, and get the name and contact information for any witnesses to the collision. More and more insurance companies are denying liability or trying to assign contributory fault to the innocent victim. Witness information is invaluable in many cases. Even without witnesses, experienced personal injury attorneys know how to get information. “Newer vehicles have Event Data Recorders (EDR),” said Rayan. “Our experience with these EDRs make a huge difference in cases because they record information about the collision that can prove or disprove facts of the case.”
4. Seek Medical Attention
Many health insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for injuries suffered in car collisions. That’s a huge hole in your insurance considering that roughly a quarter of all accidental deaths in America result from road wrecks. “Unfortunately for the injured victim of an automobile crash, some insurance require full reimbursement before the victim sees a dime, like ERISA plans,” said Rayan. “We help the victims and their families to be made whole and work to protect the rights and benefits for our clients.”
5. Report the Collision to Your Insurance
While you have no obligation to speak with the insurance company of the at-fault driver, you do have an obligation to cooperate with your insurance company to provide basic information about the collision. “Speaking with the other driver’s insurance company will not help your case,” said Peter Abbarno, Attorney and Partner with Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP. “We advise our clients to not speak with the at-fault driver’s insurance company until such time as they are finished treating or ready to make a formal demand for damages.”
6. Call Althauser Rayan Abbarno for a Free Consultation
Althauser Rayan Abbarno’s injury attorneys offer free consultations in Centralia and Olympia to victims of automobile collisions. “We want victims of automobile collisions to focus on their health,” said Abbarno. “We want to provide as much information about the process, so that potential clients can make informed decisions about their health and case.” Althauser Rayan Abbarno also offers free glove box injury cards to anyone wishing to pick it up at their Centralia and Olympia offices. Call (360) 736-1301 or Visit us!
Your Attorneys in Centralia and Olympia : Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP
Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP is honored to assist their clients in a wide range of legal matters; including personal injury and worker’s compensation. Their experienced and knowledgeable attorneys are trial-ready and prepared to fight for your rights and benefits. Contact Althauser Rayan Abbarno at (360) 736-1301 to schedule a FREE consultation. For more information, visit their website at CentraliaLaw.com.
Busy Labor Day – Planning Tips and Links!
Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest and dangerous weekends for travel. ravel times vary by year.
Based on new AAA projections based on bookings for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises shows Labor Day weekend travel in 2023 is up over last year: domestic bookings are up 4% and international bookings are up 44%.
The top 5 domestic destinations are Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York, and Las Vegas. Seattle tourism has been boosted by the strong demand for Alaska cruises. AAA data shows domestic cruise bookings over Labor Day weekend are up 19% compared to 2022.
And, while Labor Day is a time for family and vacation with family before the school year begins, it is also a time of increased automobile and travel accidents if you don’t take the proper precautions.
During Labor Day weekends, the number of car accidents spikes, and so does the number of on-road injuries and fatalities. The National Safety Council reports that: Around 400 people in the U.S. are killed in car crashes over the Labor Day weekend each year The number of car accidents increases by an estimated 9% over Labor Day weekend. Sadly, that makes Labor Day weekend the second deadliest travel holiday after Thanksgiving.
Consult Holiday Traffic Volume Charts
The attorneys with Althauser Rayan Abbarno encourage travelers to consult the holiday traffic volume charts published by the Washington State Department of Transportation. These charts help determine the best times to travel and times to avoid.
“Know Before You Go” Steps to Follow
By following these WSDOT steps, travelers can plan ahead, avoid unwanted traffic and stress, and have the best ‘last hoorah’ before school starts:
- Get informed about WSDOT’s online tools, including the WSDOT mobile app, traffic cameras and email alerts.
- Visit online traveler information for traffic, weather, ferry schedules and a real-time travel map.
- Follow WSDOT on various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter).
- Identify potential safety rest areas before heading out, to ensure enough breaks to avoid drowsy driving.
- Pre-program vehicle radios to 530 AM and 1610 AM for highway advisory radio alerts – and be alert for other stations listed on notice signs in some areas.
- Have a backup outdoor destination as parks and other outdoor recreation sites tend to fill up quickly on holiday weekends. If a site’s parking is full, never park along road shoulders, as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway, including emergency response vehicles.
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