America’s #1 Insurance Lawyer Warns: Memorial Day Hot Spot for Accidents and Tickets Leading to Big Hikes in Insurance Premiums
With more people on the road, accidents and first responders will be in full swing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Memorial Day holiday weekend has averaged 11.5% more traffic fatalities in the past 6 years than similar non-holiday periods. The National Safety Council estimates that 420 traffic fatalities and another 42,000 medical injuries will occur this Memorial Day weekend.
“Count on a state trooper at every mile marker on the highway. Police know people are out and about so speeding and traffic tickets will be on the rise. But it’s not only tickets travelers should be worried about. With more people on the road and holiday drinking, accidents will be frequent and drivers should be cautious when traveling to any destination,” says Frank N. Darras, America’s top insurance lawyer.
While drivers know that traffic violations and accidents raise insurance, most people don’t have a clue as to how much. Darras recommends drivers use Insurance.com’s new online tool to estimate the increase to their auto insurance premium for common traffic violations. The calculator is called “‘Uh-Oh!’ Calculator” and has information for 14 different violations, including not wearing a seat belt, speeding, and following too closely.
“It’s a really great tool that will help drivers estimate how much a ticket can cost. Many people use it with their kids who are young adult drivers to show what they’d have to pay if they violated one of these rules. Knowing the actual number that would cost extra each month is a pretty good way of making anyone think twice about violations,” says Darras.
Here are some of the percentage increases for common violations:
- Reckless driving: 22%
- Driving without a license or permit: 18%
- Careless Driving: 16%
- Speeding – 30mph over limit: 15%
- Speeding – 14 to 29 mph over limit: 12%
- Speeding – 1 to 14 mph over limit: 11%
- Failure to stop: 15%
- Improper turn: 14%
- Improper passing: 14%
- Following too closely: 13%
- Failure to yield: 9%
- No car insurance: 6%
“Using these percentages and reviewing your current premium, helps predict how much each violation will cost. Of course, if there is a record of several tickets, that will also affect the percentages and drive the rate even higher. Regardless, drivers should watch out this Memorial Day and be careful on the roads. Drive safely, avoid a ticket and have a terrific holiday,” says Darras