Louisiana’ premier
personal injury lawyer
Posted in Car Accidents on January 10, 2021
When you’re a conscientious New Orleans driver, you drive to stay safe. You maintain a safe speed, and you put away your digital devices. You take care not to operate your vehicle when you’re sleepy. You never drive when you’ve consumed alcohol or any substance that’s likely to diminish your driving abilities. When considering your safety, remember that the days and even the hours you drive can also make a difference.
In New Orleans, traffic casualties and fatalities aren’t just a concern for local residents. In 2019 19.75 million people visited New Orleans from across the country and around the world. Even with a slowdown of visitors, a daily stream of incoming and outgoing traffic contributes to accidents and injuries.
During 2020 in New Orleans, 8,322 people sustained injuries in 4,952 car crashes. Forty-four people died from their injuries. Louisiana Crash Data Reports show that these crashes occurred at all hours of the day and night. They also show that during certain hours within each 24-hour period, it’s probably a good idea to just stay off the road.
While driving in New Orleans, you should remain cautious at all times. The city’s mix of commuter, tourist, and entertainment traffic triggers accidents throughout the day. With 4,952 injury-related accidents and 8,322 injured victims, New Orleans has more injury accidents than any other area in the state.
Unlike many cities, you see no clear rush hour pattern for accidents with injuries. The numbers begin climbing just before noon, and by 5:00 PM, they enter a gradual decline. Fatal accidents reflect a slightly different trend. They occur mostly during the late afternoon and early evening hours. The statistics below reflect New Orleans Parish accident numbers. Over 97% of the injury accidents and 100% of the fatal accidents occurred within the city.
Everyone deserves a chance to unwind during their downtime. While some people relax at home, others drive to entertainment areas. Unfortunately, alcohol and vehicle crashes are sometimes a part of that downtime tradition. That’s one of the reasons why Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are usually the most dangerous days to drive.
It’s slightly different in New Orleans. People in the hospitality industry work 24/7 and their off days vary. It’s not just local people coming out to play. People from all over the world crowd the city’s streets night and day.
Accident/injury numbers throughout the Parish remain somewhat consistent throughout the week. Over the weekend, crash statistics reflect an increase in injuries and fatalities. The crash data shows accident numbers for the parish, but very few occurred in rural areas.
As with many busy cities, accidents in New Orleans occur at higher rates during weekends. With so much partying, alcohol isn’t as much of a factor as you would imagine. Of the 4,952 injury accidents within the city during the year, only 305 involved alcohol.
New Orleans Parish residents enjoy their fair share of holidays and celebrations. Visitors and locals have extended periods of free time. They share fun and exciting days and nights, but some drivers don’t celebrate safely. They take to area roads and highways to visit friends and relatives. Some drivers drink when they shouldn’t, and others drive distracted.
Parish casualty statistics cover the traditional days off as a holiday period. They begin at 6:00 PM on the first day and end at midnight on the final day. More injury accidents and fatalities occurred during Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and the New Year celebration than any other season in the year.
If you live, work, or visit New Orleans, you don’t have to deal with snow and ice. Heavy rains and floods make up for that. In explaining the city’s weather, Ready.Nola.Gov describes an annual average of 62 inches of rain. This excessive rainfall has caused 42 floods in the last 20 years. Floods occur as it’s a low-lying, highly-paved city with minimal grass or natural areas. Your car or truck is the most likely victim of floods and surface water. Still, the data shows that 1,232 crashes occurred when the weather was rainy, cloudy, or foggy.
You can’t always avoid accidents, but you can do your part to stay safe. Drive cautiously. Use seat belts, and stay off the road during high-risk, high-danger hours and days. Also, pay attention to drivers around you. They might not be practicing the same safe driving behaviors as you.
If you’re injured in an accident in New Orleans, consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The Law Offices of John Redmann has offices in Gretna and Metairie, Louisiana. We work hard to recover damages for our injured clients. Let’s talk, and we’ll determine if we can help you.
To schedule a complimentary, no-commitment legal consultation, call us at 504-500-5000.