Posted by Car Accident Attorney
LOS ANGELES, California – Nov. 23, 2011 – Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all over our Southern California freeways, 2.8 million motorists were packing their trunks and wrestling busy traffic to getaway for the long holiday weekend.
According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, after several years of declining Thanksgiving travel, holiday trips are expected to rise roughly 4% this year to 3.3 million people, up roughly 4% over 2010 including about 86% of those travelers hitting the freeways to drive to their destinations. About 386,000 are expected to fly and 91,000 will travel in other ways, according to projections by the Auto Club.
Traffic safety is of the utmost importance on holiday weekends. In fact, the California Highway Patrol will kick up its enforcement with its Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 27 at 11:59 p.m.
Last year there were 21 people killed in traffic accidents here in California and the CHP made 1,546 arrests for driving under the influence, a 6% increase in DUI arrests over the previous year, according to statistics compiled by the CHP.
“Spending Thanksgiving with family is a tradition most of us look forward to every year, but driving on California freeways can be extremely dangerous for holiday travelers,” said West Seegmiller, founder of the Seegmiller Law Firm. “Try to drive during non-peak hours to avoid traffic, but get plenty of rest before setting out on long drivers.”
Across California, an estimated 5.3 million travelers are expected out on the roadways this weekend, up about 4% from the year before. Most of them will be driving on our freeways to get to their Thanksgiving gatherings and top destinations are Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Grand Canyon and Disneyland in Anaheim, according to the Auto Club.
No one expects they will get in a car accident when they hit the road for a holiday weekend, but for those who are injured in a car accident there is help just a phone call away. For roughly 30 years, the legal experts at Seegmiller Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients injured in serious traffic accidents. Our legal team has also handled hundreds of wrongful death claims for families of victims killed in traffic accidents. Indeed, the car accident law firm has a proven track record supported by settlements ranging from several thousand dollars to millions.
Seegmiller is a personal injury law firm with a track record of proven results. There is no cost to clients until our experienced team of lawyers and legal professionals have won your case. Finding the best car accident attorney can mean you will get the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Compensation for your injuries, loss of wages and pain and suffering can’t take away the trauma of the accident, but it can help you rebuild your life.
Call us today at 1-877-426-0695 to speak with our car accident law firm. Seegmiller Law Firm has offices in California including its headquarters in Irvine. We also have offices outside of Orange County to serve you in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Auto Club Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Weekend:
- Avoid traffic by trying to pick an off-peak travel time to depart or return home. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening will likely be the most congested period for outbound traffic, and Sunday afternoon and evening will probably be busy for returning traffic.
- If you choose to travel at night or very early in the morning, make sure to get at least six hours of sleep. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. If you find yourself struggling to stay awake, pull over to a safe, lit area and take a nap. During long-distance car trips, try to stop every couple of hours to get out and stretch, which will help keep you alert as you drive.
- Plan your route before you leave and check traffic online at AAA.com/TripTik or on the free TripTik Mobile app for smartphones. For hourly updated lane closures and highway closures in California, call the California Highway Information Number at (800) 427-7623.
- If you are flying to your destination, plan to arrive at least two to three hours before your flight departs to allow for long lines at check-in and security checkpoints. Check with your travel agent regarding how early you should arrive for international flights. Utilize the online check-in feature offered by all major airlines to check in, usually up to 24 hours ahead of time.
