Setareh Law
December 2, 2025
The holiday season brings joy, family gatherings, and cherished traditions, but it also creates some of the most dangerous driving conditions of the entire year. Millions of Californians hit the roads simultaneously during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, creating congested highways where even small mistakes can lead to devastating accidents. Add winter weather, driver fatigue from long journeys, and increased alcohol consumption during celebrations, and you have a recipe for tragedy that claims lives and injures thousands every holiday season.
Understanding the unique hazards of holiday travel and taking proactive safety measures can help protect you and your family during these high-risk periods. If you’re injured in a car accident during holiday travel, Setareh Law is here to help. Our attorneys have over 60 years of combined experience representing accident victims throughout California, and we’ve recovered over $250 million for clients. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for your injuries.
Why Holiday Travel Is More Dangerous
Several factors combine to make holiday travel periods significantly more hazardous than typical driving conditions. Volume alone creates substantial risk. When highways that normally handle moderate traffic suddenly accommodate millions of additional vehicles, the margin for error shrinks dramatically. California’s major routes like Interstate 5, Highway 101, and Interstate 80 become parking lots during peak holiday travel times, with stop-and-go traffic creating countless opportunities for rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pileups.
Driver behavior changes during holidays in ways that increase accident risk. Many people travel long distances to reach family gatherings, often after working full days, leading to severe fatigue behind the wheel. Drivers who are eager to arrive at their destinations may speed, follow too closely, or make aggressive lane changes trying to save a few minutes. Holiday stress compounds these issues, creating distracted, impatient drivers who are more likely to make dangerous decisions.
Alcohol consumption spikes dramatically during holiday celebrations, and despite decades of awareness campaigns, drunk driving remains a leading cause of holiday traffic fatalities. New Year’s Eve is particularly dangerous, but Thanksgiving eve has earned the unfortunate nickname “Blackout Wednesday” due to high rates of alcohol-related crashes. Winter weather adds another layer of danger, particularly in Northern California and mountainous regions where holiday travelers encounter rain, fog, or snow conditions they may be unprepared to handle.
Practical Steps to Stay Safe During Holiday Travel
Planning your trip carefully helps you avoid the most dangerous conditions and arrive safely at your destination.
Timing Your Travel Strategically
Avoiding peak travel times significantly reduces your accident risk. If possible, travel on off-peak days rather than the day before major holidays when traffic volume peaks. Consider leaving very early in the morning or late at night when highways are less congested. Check traffic reports before departing and use navigation apps that provide real-time traffic updates and suggest alternate routes around accidents or congestion.
Build extra time into your travel plans so you’re not rushing. The pressure to arrive by a specific time leads to speeding and aggressive driving. If you’re running late, accept it and drive safely rather than risking an accident trying to make up time. Remember that arriving an hour late is infinitely better than not arriving at all.
Preparing Your Vehicle
Vehicle maintenance becomes critically important before long holiday journeys. Have a mechanic inspect your vehicle’s brakes, tires, lights, and fluid levels. Worn brake pads or bald tires that function adequately in daily local driving can fail catastrophically during long highway trips or in poor weather. Ensure your windshield wipers work properly and that you have adequate washer fluid, as California’s winter rains can reduce visibility dramatically.
Pack an emergency kit including a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, basic tools, a first aid kit, water, non-perishable snacks, blankets, and a phone charger. If you’re traveling through mountain areas, include chains or cables for your tires even if you don’t expect snow. Weather can change rapidly, and being prepared prevents you from becoming stranded in dangerous conditions.
Driving Defensively
Defensive driving techniques that are always important become absolutely essential during holiday travel. Increase your following distance to at least four seconds, giving you extra time to react if traffic ahead stops suddenly. Stay in the right or center lanes on multi-lane highways, allowing faster traffic to pass on the left rather than constantly changing lanes. Use cruise control on long, clear stretches to maintain consistent speed and reduce fatigue, but turn it off in heavy traffic or poor weather.
Watch for signs of impaired or drowsy drivers including vehicles weaving between lanes, driving too slowly or inconsistently, delayed reactions to traffic signals, or abrupt braking without clear reason. Give these drivers plenty of space and consider reporting suspected drunk drivers to highway patrol using your phone’s hands-free system. Take regular breaks every two hours or 100 miles during long trips. Stop at rest areas, stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and assess your alertness honestly. If you’re feeling drowsy, don’t try to push through to your destination. Driver fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time as severely as alcohol intoxication.
What to Do If You’re Involved in a Holiday Accident
Despite your best prevention efforts, you may still be involved in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence. If a collision occurs, first ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers. Move vehicles out of traffic if possible, turn on hazard lights, and call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is injured.
Exchange information with other drivers including names, phone numbers, insurance details, and vehicle information, but avoid discussing fault or apologizing, as these statements can be used against you later. Take photographs of vehicle damage, the accident scene, skid marks, traffic conditions, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses who saw the collision.
Seek medical evaluation even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Adrenaline often masks pain and injury symptoms in the immediate aftermath of accidents, and some injuries like whiplash or internal trauma may not become apparent for hours or days. Medical records created immediately after your accident provide crucial documentation linking your injuries to the collision.
Contact an attorney before giving recorded statements to insurance companies or accepting settlement offers. Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims within hours of collisions, hoping to secure quick settlements before victims understand the full extent of their injuries. Having legal representation ensures your rights are protected from the beginning and prevents you from accepting inadequate compensation that doesn’t cover your actual damages.
Get Help From Setareh Law After a Holiday Accident
The attorneys at Setareh Law understand that holiday accidents create particular challenges for victims and their families. An injury that occurs during what should be a joyous time with family creates emotional trauma beyond the physical pain and financial stress of medical bills and lost income. Our team provides compassionate support while aggressively pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries, working with medical professionals to document the full impact of the accident on your life and holding negligent drivers accountable for the harm they caused.
We maintain over 400 five-star reviews on Google because we prioritize personalized attention and clear communication with every client. Our firm operates eight office locations throughout California and offers home visits when your injuries make travel difficult. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you can focus on recovery without worrying about upfront legal costs. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your holiday accident case and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
