Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, AAA predicted that a record number of people will travel more than 50 miles to celebrate this year’s feast.
If their prediction holds, then the number of people traveling to Thanksgiving destinations will approach 80 million and will exceed pre-2020 numbers for the first time.
Among these travelers, most of them, 71.7 million, will drive to their destinations. The number of people on the road will increase by almost 2% over last year if AAA’s prediction holds. Thanksgiving is already the busiest time of year on the nation’s roads.
More holiday traffic could mean more accidents as well
The more vehicles there are on the road in the Memphis area, the more likely it is that motor vehicle accidents will happen. Moreover, heavy traffic creates additional hazards on the road, including traffic jams in places that might take motorists by surprise.
Unfortunately, some people do choose to drink and drive over the Thanksgiving holiday. Even if alcohol is not involved, other motorists may not be paying attention or too tired to drive. Irresponsible driving happens too often year-round, including over holidays like Thanksgiving.
Tennessee motorists need to slow down, pay attention and make sure to keep cool heads should they wind up working against heavy traffic. They should also follow all our state’s traffic rules. This is their responsibility as drivers on Tennessee’s roads.
Motorists who cause injuries on the Memphis-area roads can be held accountable
If a motorist does not take their responsibility seriously, there is an increased chance that they will cause serious injuries or even a fatality in an accident.
Injuries following a wreck can in the worst cases leave a victim disabled and requiring constant care for the rest of their lives.
Moreover, the emotional fallout from a serious accident can be devastating on the victim and the family alike. What started as a joyful occasion could well end in a family tragedy.
It is only fair that those who cause such accidents through negligence pay their victims for all the damages that they caused. Victims of accidents around Thanksgiving may need to explore their legal options to pursue compensation under Tennessee law.