Snow is in the forecast for today. Many school kids become ecstatic with the thoughts of a snow day with no school. Many parents also feel elation of a no work day because of the weather. Many people in the area enjoy a change of the dreary scenery this time of year. But for most of us, it just means a more hazardous commute.
I went to lunch and noticed the flurries beginning to fall today. It made me think to take extra caution as the roads may soon become icy and slick. I called my wife to remind her to be careful and remind her to buckle up.
Then a thought hit me, “Why are we so much more thoughtful of the possibility of accidents on longer trips?” Most of us remember to buckle up when we get onto the interstate or are taking a long trip, but may sometimes forget on those short trips to the store. It seems like we prepare more for the possibility of an accident if we are traveling a long distance. However, the facts show that most accidents do not occur on long distance trips, but instead happen on our everyday commutes and short trips around our homes.
Progressive Insurance polled 11,000 of its policyholders who experienced accidents in 2001. They found that 52% were involved in accidents within five miles from there home and 69% were involved in accidents within ten miles from their home. Only 17% of those polled experienced accidents beyond twenty miles from his or her home (Strillacci, 2002).
Because we are much more likely to be involved in an accident close to our home than we are on extended trips, we need to take the same precautions each time we get into our vehicles. Many law firms handle cases for personally injuries that arise from car accidents.
Truth be told, if there were fewer of those cases because people realized the need for safety is as high on a quick trip to the store as it is on a trip across the state, we couldn’t be happier.
Buckle up. Pay attention. Be safe, and drive careful.
By K. Jason Bice, Attorney at Law, Law Office of Jack Clay, LLC
