The holidays are an exciting time of the year, with travelling to visit friends and family, parties and events, and general spiked enthusiasm and cheer. Unfortunately, the holidays are also when car accidents increase. Nothing ruins the holiday spirit like being a victim of a car accident. But why is this time of year so much worse than the rest of the year for car accidents?

Reasons Car Accidents Increase During The Holidays

In order to do your best to avoid car accidents, it’s important to understand the factors behind why they increase during the holiday. Here are some of the main reasons why you see car crashes spike this time of year.

Increased Traffic

More cars on the road means a higher likelihood for accidents. During the holidays, many people are taking work off to travel, and there’s a general increase in activities. More people are going shopping in order to get presents, running errands, eating out, going to events and parties, and visiting their friends and family. This buzz of activity results in an increase in traffic volume – and potential for crashes.

Bad Weather

If you live somewhere or visit somewhere where it snows, this is another contributing factor to increased automobile accidents. Snow storms lower visibility, and snow and ice can make the roads slick, causing cars to slip and slide.

Buzzed Or Drunk Driving

Holidays come with parties and many parties come with alcohol. Unfortunately, in spite of all the warnings about how you shouldn’t drive after drinking, many people still do. Alcohol impairs your judgement, vision, and ability to drive, which makes driving while buzzed or drunk extremely dangerous. Since there are more parties during the holidays, there are also more buzzed or drunk drivers, which makes the roads much more hazardous.

Holiday Stress

Traffic gets on the nerves of the best of us, and with increased traffic volume during the holidays, traffic only ever gets worse. This combined with how the holidays themselves can already be stressful due to everything you have to get done can lead to extremely stressed out drivers who ignore traffic rules or who drive distracted and ergo, recklessly. 

Neglected Car Maintenance

For many people, the holidays bring on financial stress, since you have gifts to purchase in addition to all your normal bills. This can lead to people neglecting their car maintenance in order to prioritise other things financially. However, keeping your car in good condition is essential to driving safely and avoiding accidents from an issue maintenance could have prevented.

Common Injuries From Car Accidents Chiropractors Can Help With

If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s vital to seek medical attention right away and call 911 if necessary. There are some injuries resulting from car crashes that chiropractors can help with. Many doctors will recommend chiropractic treatment in addition to medical care if you’ve experience any of the following injuries: 

Whiplash

Whiplash is when your spine and head snap back and forth rapidly, like if you go from driving to an abrupt stop in a crash. Chiropractors can help with whiplash in a number of ways, depending on how it has affected you. Your treatment options may include: spinal manipulation, muscle stimulation, specialized exercises and stretches, and suggestions for lifestyle changes to reduce muscle strain.

Pain In Your Back, Neck, And Shoulders

These are some of the most common kinds of pain resulting from a car accident. Chiropractors specialize in the spine and joints, so they can give you expert, personalized care in order to determine the specific cause of your pain and develop a treatment method tailored to you. 

Inflammation

Spinal manipulations and muscle relaxation techniques can stimulate your body’s natural healing process, including the release of IL-6, which is a natural substance in your body that works to reduce inflammation. 

Reduced Range Of Motion

Chances are, you’ll probably be feeling stiff after a car crash, and it’s harder to move. Stimulation therapy can improve your blood flow which can assist your muscles in their healing journey, restoring your range of motion.

Dizziness/Blurred Vision

If your spine gets misaligned after an accident, you may end up feeling dizzy or with blurry vision. While seeing an eye doctor should be your first step, chiropractors can help with blurred vision and dizziness if they result from obstructed pathways in your central nervous system, which is located in your spine and affects your optic nerves. Spinal manipulations can realign your spine and potentially resolve dizziness or blurred vision, if this is what was causing them.

Chiropractic Treatments After A Car Accident

Injuries from car accidents shouldn’t be ignored. Left untreated, many have the potential to worsen into more serious issues. If you’ve been in a car accident recently, you may consider going to a chiropractor to help treat your injuries. 

Have You Been In A Car Accident?

Health And Wellness Clinic specializes in auto injuries. We know how even though the holidays should be merry and bright, they also come with a lot more car crashes than is normal. We can help you with chiropractic treatments to get you feeling healthy again. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today!