{"id":5256,"date":"2020-05-11T21:10:27","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T21:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mullenandmullen.com\/how-coronavirus-could-lead-to-more-danger-on-the-road\/"},"modified":"2023-10-03T13:12:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T13:12:40","slug":"how-coronavirus-could-lead-to-more-danger-on-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mullenandmullen.com\/personal-injury-lawyer\/articles\/how-coronavirus-could-lead-to-more-danger-on-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"How coronavirus could lead to more danger on the road"},"content":{"rendered":"
Yes. Coronavirus could make driving more dangerous because certain risks could increase. Find out what they might be.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As if coronavirus isn\u2019t causing enough disruption already!<\/p>\n We\u2019re slowly experiencing more of the unexpected trouble coronavirus causes.<\/p>\n For example, have you noticed problems with your internet service or cell phone reception? Some people have.<\/p>\n So far, those particular problems haven\u2019t been huge. But they have happened.<\/p>\n Speaking of coronavirus disruption, it causes problems with driving too.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to look out for:<\/p>\n More Drivers Are Not Carrying Insurance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Not too sure what you can do about this one, other than making sure you pay your own insurance and have adequate uninsured\/underinsured motorist coverage.<\/p>\n It\u2019s totally reasonable to think that since so many people are losing their jobs, they won\u2019t have money to pay their auto insurance.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t justify them driving without car insurance<\/a>. However, some will. And you can bet the number of people driving without insurance will increase.<\/p>\n The number of unemployed has skyrocketed at a historically high rate.<\/p>\n The week of March 21st saw more than 3 million unemployment claims filed. And the following week doubled that, with more than 6 million.<\/p>\n To put this in perspective, unemployment was at about 3.5% in February. That rate grew to 17%<\/a> after just those two weeks – and more is coming!<\/p>\n And the highest unemployment rate in American history was 24.9% during the Great Depression<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hopefully not too many more people will drive without insurance. But it is something to prepare for.<\/p>\n More People Driving with Dangerous Mechanical Problems<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Because more people won\u2019t have the money they need to get by, it\u2019s not unreasonable to also think they\u2019ll let mechanical problems go longer.<\/p>\n Yes. The economic stimulus will give $1200 to every American adult, and more to families with dependents.<\/p>\n However, how will people choose to spend that money?<\/p>\n Will they need to put their mortgage, rent, and groceries first?<\/p>\n It\u2019s impossible to know. They might rationalize that, since they don\u2019t need to drive to and from work as much, they can let mechanical problems go a little longer.<\/p>\n Again, we don\u2019t know the extent to which this problem will appear. But, it\u2019s not unreasonable to believe it will happen to some degree.<\/p>\n Watch Out For Semi-Truck Drivers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Many trucking companies work their drivers to the bone in a normal economy.<\/p>\n Now, with consumer runs on essential living items like groceries, truck drivers have even more of a demand placed on them.<\/p>\n Plus, they\u2019re having a harder time accessing food and water because states are totally shutting down restaurants<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, more work and lesser sustenance makes for a great recipe for exhaustion…and more driving mistakes!<\/p>\n In a normal economy, fatigue is already a leading cause of semi-truck accidents<\/a>.<\/p>\n Again, we don\u2019t know the extent of the problem. But it\u2019s also not unreasonable to believe it will happen to some degree.<\/p>\n Working from Home May Not Be So Bad After All<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n All in all, perhaps it\u2019s a good thing you now have to work from home. We don\u2019t know how much more dangerous the roads could get.<\/p>\n But, certain risks do have factors which make it likely those risks could increase.<\/p>\n Be a little more vigilant for these things. Take appropriate safety measures. And stay safe out there!<\/p>\n Suggested Reading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Study suggests ridesharing increases traffic fatalities<\/a><\/p>\n What to do if the police won’t respond to your crash<\/a><\/p>\n 3 possible ways Covid may affect your accident claim<\/a><\/p>\n