Whether you use your own vehicle or depend on public transportation, we can all agree to one thing. Cars make our lives easier. They add a lot of conveniences and make it easy for you to go about your day. Nonetheless, we cannot shy away from the fact that there’s always a possibility of encountering an accident.

Accidents happen all the time, and they vary in terms of the type, nature, and severity, from minor fender benders to those that cause serious injuries and even fatalities. But did you know that the risk of getting involved in an accident may also depend on place and time? If you are like most careful motorists, you probably mind your safety and the safety of other road users. More often than not, you want to drive on a road that is marked properly, not too busy, and the traffic lights are functioning well.

You may have wondered what times of the day are the most dangerous to be in traffic, perhaps so you can avoid them or adjust your trips accordingly.

So, which times of the day do most road accidents happen?

WHAT THIS PIECE CONTAINS

Is Time Really A Factor In The Occurrence Of An Accident?
Some past Statistics on Road Crashes by Time of Day
Is Rush Hour a Dangerous Time to Drive?
Fatal Accidents Also Increase On the Weekend
Most Dangerous Times to Drive
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Is Time Really A Factor In The Occurrence Of An Accident?

Time is inarguably an important factor in the occurrence of accidents on the road. This is so because certain times of the day tend to have more or higher risk factors than others as far as road crashes are concerned.

For instance, nighttime drivers are more likely to be tired from a long day, not to mention that they reduce visibility on the road while driving at night. Moreover, it is not uncommon to encounter some drivers who took one or two for the road, which could be considered driving while intoxicated. All these factors could increase the risk of encountering a road accident.

On the other hand, some times of the day are usually busy, often with traffic congestion. This is especially seen early in the morning when most people are going to work, or late in the evening when workers and business people are rushing to get home early enough for dinner. The “rush hour” phenomenon is a common contributor to car crashes.

Last but not least, most highways tend to be free from traffic at certain times of the day, like between 10am and 12noon and between 2pm and 4pm. In this case, speeding, distracted driving, and recklessness are more likely to be witnessed, again increasing the risk of finding yourself in a car accident.

The good thing is that if you were injured or suffered damages from a car crash, Flora Templeton Stuart’s car accident lawyers can help you seek compensation despite the time the accident took place. If the involved insurance company is hesitant to reach an amicable settlement, a seasoned team of accident injury attorneys will always be more than willing to take the case to trial and recover the maximum possible compensation for you.

Some Past Statistics on Road Crashes by Time of Day

Numerous studies have been done about accidents and when they are most likely to occur in the conventional 24-hour day. Here are some random statistics from some of these surveys.

OHSO 2014: A report by OHSO on statewide crashes in 2014 revealed that almost seven times more road crashes actually occurred during the day (49,455) compared to during the night (7,796). However, the same report also showed that more accidents happened during dusk compared to crashes that occurred at dawn.
Injury Facts 2019: Pooled data from reports by the NHTSA, FARS, CRSS, and NSC also had one finding in common. Both fatal and nonfatal car crashes peaked towards the evening, typically between 4pm and 8pm. Nonetheless, the said peak crash times varied significantly throughout the different months and seasons of the year.
BTS Statistics 2020: Revised data from the Bureau of Transportation Safety showed that in 2020, most fatal accidents on the road took place between 6pm and 9pm.

Is Rush Hour a Dangerous Time to Drive?

If you are like many drivers out there, you wouldn’t be far from the truth if you mentioned rush hour as among the most dangerous times of the day to drive. This is usually 3pm to 6pm or 7 pm in most places, and the reasons for the increased risk of being in a car accident are almost obvious. Some of these include:

Increased traffic during rush hour
Higher chances of speeding as most people are eager to get home from work
Higher chances of fatigue and distracted driving after a long day at work
Decreased visibility when it starts getting dark

What about the Weekends?

For more than a few good reasons, weekends tend to present a higher risk of accidents to road users. This is especially on Saturdays, according to a 2018 study, when most people have more free time to party and drive around, sometimes under the influence.

This also means that even if you’re the most disciplined defensive driver in town, there’s always a risk of getting into an accident on the weekends because of someone else’s negligence. It’s also all the more reason to have a reputed accident injury attorney on speed dial, just in case you or someone close to you fall victim to the negligence of another motorist.

Most Dangerous Times to Drive

As we’ve established, your risk of getting into a car crash may depend on the time of the day you’re driving. Moreover, some times of the day tend to have higher fatality rates from car crashes than others. Considering accidents that cause minor injuries, serious injuries, and fatalities, the pointers below could paint a picture of the most dangerous times of the day for driving.

Evening Rush hour – Between 5pm and 7pm is considered a dangerous time to drive
Wee Hours of the night – Between 12am and 4am are among the deadliest hours on the road
Peaks for fatal and nonfatal crashes may vary throughout the year

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Needless to reiterate, anyone can encounter a car accident anytime regardless of how congested or free the road is. If the accident was caused by the negligence or reckless behavior of another road user, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under the law. This could be pursued from the negligent driver, their insurance company, or both, through a personal injury/car accident claim. The accident injury attorneys at Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers can help you recover a range of damages in compensation, including:

Vehicle repair/replacement costs
Medical bills and treatment for injuries suffered
Wage losses caused by the accident
Post-treatment care and disability
Other out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
Punitive damages if the case goes to trial

Conclusion

Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers are available 24/7. You can call us for a free consult and case evaluation seven days a week. We travel to our injured clients if they cannot come to us.