Written by Award Winning Attorney Lawrence S. Lapidus
The plus is – at least we know what to expect for the 4th of July. The downside: it isn’t pretty! There will be a record number of people traveling for the upcoming holiday. Nearly 50 million drivers in the US will take to the roads for a getaway, says AAA, which means traffic backups will be plentiful. And for the DC region, there is no exception.
AAA Predictions
Here are the nationwide stats, according to AAA:
- Automobiles: The vast majority of travelers – 41.4 million – will hit the road, the most on record for the holiday and 4.3% more than last year.
- Planes: 3.96 million people will take to the skies, the highest number on record and 5.3% more than last year.
- Trains, Buses, and Cruise Ships: Travel across these sectors will increase by 0.6% to 3.55 million passengers.
A recent article posted on wtop.com uses the words, “absolute gridlock nightmare” if that’s any indication of what lies ahead for Metro DC drivers on the 4th.
The article reads, “Cheap gas prices, American wanderlust, optimism about the economy and a long holiday weekend combine to make what could be an ‘absolute gridlock nightmare’ in the D.C. area, according to a AAA spokesman.”
And when is all this supposed to happen? The worst of the worst will be long after the fireworks are said and done, according to WTOP’s interview.
“People may leave the area at different times during the holiday, but for the most part return on Sunday, July 7.”
The AAA spokesman explained to WTOP that “Everyone who has gone out of town will try to come back to the same area, on the same roadways, between 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm.”
WTOP also explains, “On July 7, these returning holidaymakers will share the roads with drivers who stayed in town going about their weekend activities and with through-drivers passing the area up and down on Interstate 95.”
So, what can you do to stay safe on the roads?
Staying Safe on The 4th
Here’s what we recommend:
- Try not to travel during peak times.
- Leave with ample time to travel.
- Don’t let your gas run low – a good rule of thumb is not to go below the half tank mark; you never know how long you could be stuck in traffic.
- Always buckle up.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- No mobile phones while driving. If you need to use GPS or text, pull over to get the job done. And for calls, go hands-free and use earbuds or headphones.
What To Do If You’re In An Accident on The 4th Of July
First and foremost, if there are injuries do not delay treatment. And don’t hesitate to use an ambulance for transportation to a medical facility. Not only will you be getting treatment fast, (that could be lifesaving), but in many states, that ambulance transportation will lead to the filing of a police report that lists the details of your accident. Without that police report, the only documentation you’ll have is what you’re able to gather at the accident scene. Also, be sure to get the license plate number of the vehicle that caused your accident.
And don’t forget about the next step.
Contact an Injury Lawyer
Here at The Lapidus Law Firm, our goal is to ensure that your insurance claim is handled fairly by the insurance company. If that doesn’t happen, you can hire our team of tenacious lawyers in DC or Maryland to represent you, and we’ll work aggressively toward our goal of getting you a fair and reasonable settlement for your injuries, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, property damage, lost wages, and much more.
Give us a call in DC at 202-785-5111 or in Maryland at (301) 605-4296. We can help!