Fall Driving Hazards in Louisiana

Fall is the perfect time to be outdoors in Louisiana. The temperatures are mild, and it is the least rainy season of the year. Of course, when was the last time you heard of someone in Louisiana going on a walk for fun? Here, the preferred way to enjoy the great outdoors is from the inside of a motor vehicle, at least until you reach a body of water, at which point a boat will do just fine. In some parts of the country, snowy winters present a danger for motorists, but we do not have to worry much about that in Houma, where the average low temperature in January is 45 degrees, which is a long way from freezing. Instead, fall is the season with the most seasonally specific driving hazards. A Houma car accident lawyer can help you if you have suffered a serious injury in a car accident in Louisiana, whether it is your home or whether you were just here visiting.

Deer on the Move

Deer hunting season in Louisiana usually lasts from October until February, and deer are abundant in Terrebonne Parish and the surrounding areas. Fall is mating season, so deer tend to travel farther outside their home territory in search of mates. As deer have no awareness of traffic laws or of how cars work, you might see them bounding across the road, or even standing still in the middle of the road, unsure of where to go, or even munching on leaves and grass in the neutral ground. To say that deer pose a distraction to drivers is an understatement; motorists reacting to the unpredictable actions of deer cause many accidents each year.

Fall Leaves Make for Slippery Roads

Even though Houma does not usually get snow, it does get its share of fall leaves falling onto the roads. While these leaves are a lovely sight, they can quickly make the roads dangerous because when the leaves get wet, they become slimy and slippery, making the road as dangerous as if it were covered in snow or ice.

Drunk Driving Associated With Fall Events

In many parts of the country, the peak season for drunk driving lasts from Thanksgiving until New Year’s, but in Louisiana, we are just getting started when we ring in the New Year. King cake season begins on Epiphany, and once you reach a certain age, every slice of king cake is accompanied by an adult beverage, all the way to Mardi Gras. Of course, the fall presents plenty of high-risk situations for drunk driving, too. Halloween is a boozy event in New Orleans. Since Louisiana’s drinking age laws for young adults are more relaxed in other states, college drinking is a major cause of drunk driving. Anyone trying to drive home from freshman orientation, sorority or fraternity rush events, or a homecoming game may be directly in the path of a drunk driver.

Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Car Accidents

A car accident lawyer can help you recover your accident-related financial losses if you get injured in a car accident. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana to set up a consultation about your case.

 

Sources

https://wtop.com/national/2023/09/why-fall-not-winter-is-the-countrys-most-dangerous-driving-season/