Thanksgiving Travel Tips

Thanksgiving is only of couple weeks away and thanks to the abundance of coronavirus vaccines, more families will be together this holiday season. And while you are probably only thinking about what you will be eating on Thanksgiving Day, you should also be thinking about if you are safely prepared to travel by car.

95% of Thanksgiving travelers will travel by car with an average of almost 50 million people on the road! That is a lot of people on the road, with a higher probability of an accident.Add that to staggering new numbers showing 1 in 5 drivers in Florida are uninsured or underinsured, and it becomes more important to be prepared.

If you are traveling this holiday season?Before you hit the road, our attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. discuss how you can make your car travels safer.Should you be involved in an accident, remember to get in touch with a qualified injury lawyer about your unique case.

Before Your Road Trip:

Before you travel, make sure you review your auto insurance policy. You will want to make sure it is up-to-date, and all premiums have been made and there is no lapse in coverage.

Some additional things to look for in your auto insurance policy are:

Comprehensive and collision coverage > Florida is one of the highest states of uninsured drivers, with about 28% of drivers with no insurance. If you are hit,you will need to make sure you are covered under your insurance.
Uninsured motorist coverage > With so many uninsured drivers if you are in an accident you will need to think about how you will cover your medical bills and expenses. Uninsured motorist coverage will help cover your medical expenses after your PIP has been applied.
Liability limits > Check your limits of liability. This coverage helps you pay for property damage, medical expenses, and other damages to another person/vehicle that you are legally required to pay when you cause the auto accident. Liability coverage is usually broken down into Bodily Injury and Property Damage.If your limits are low,you may have to pay out-of-pocket to coverall the damage and expenses.

Have Roadside Help

If you do not already have roadside coverage, make sure to purchase this before your trip. Most of the time you can purchase roadside coverage through your auto insurance company, but you can also purchase it from an auto club, like AAA.

Roadside coverage helps in case you experience a flat tire, overheated engine, or need to be towed. All these services are normally included with your coverage, and they will come to you on the road to assist.

Bring a car charger for your phone just in case you need to get in touch with them. You may have a long wait due to holiday traffic, and you don’t want to risk your battery.

On the Road:

Defensive Driving Tips

You cannot control the other drivers on the road, but you can control how you drive.

Be prepared to drive. Make sure to get plenty of rest before you start your holiday travels. Driving while you are exhausted is dangerous and increases the risk of you falling asleep at the wheel.
Do not drink and drive.
Take plenty of breaks. Stop every 2 hours if possible and if you are traveling with someone, make sure to switch drivers as often as possible. If you are driving alone, try not to drive more than 8 hours alone; get a hotel overnight if you need to.

Carry Proof of Insurance

Every time you drive,have your proof of auto insurance with you. Put it on top of your glove compartment or save it to your phone to have convenient access to it.

It is also beneficial to carry your health insurance card if you are ever injured in car accident.

Hurt in an Auto Accident?

With almost 50 million additional people on the road during Thanksgiving, you will want to make sure you have done everything possible to prepare and have all the adequate auto insurance coverage to help you financially and medically if you are in an accident.Remember to check that you have the right coverage from your car insurance policy.

The attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. are ready to help you if you are in an auto accident.As veteran injury attorneys, we will fight to get you the compensation you need to cover the damages or injuries. Call our Tampa, FL-based personal injury firm today at (813) 871-1300 to speak with us about your unique case.

Here, your family is our family. Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!