How Can You Protect Your Legal Rights During Thanksgiving Travel In Florida?

November 27, 2025

Dennis Hernandez

Thanksgiving today brings family together, but it also brings crowded roads and busy stores. Heavy traffic, rushed schedules, and holiday celebrations can increase the risk of serious accidents. If you travel or host guests today, it is important to think about safety and your legal rights.

Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys helps people hurt in car crashes, falls, and other preventable accidents. Our team has recovered millions and millions of dollars for injured clients across Florida. We fight to get you paid and we want you to stay safe while you enjoy the holiday.

Why Does Thanksgiving Create Higher Accident Risks On Florida Roads?

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Recent forecasts suggest that around eighty million Americans will travel for Thanksgiving this year. Most of those travelers will drive at least fifty miles from home for the holiday.

More vehicles on the road mean more chances for distracted, tired, or aggressive drivers to cause harm. Crowded highways and last minute trips can lead to mistakes that have serious consequences for innocent families.

Alcohol use also increases during holiday gatherings. National data show that about one third of Thanksgiving traffic deaths involve drunk drivers. In one recent year, Thanksgiving Eve crashes involved one hundred drivers in fatal collisions, and thirty five percent were drunk. Many deadly crashes happen on Thanksgiving Eve and over the long weekend when people leave parties or bars. Even one poor choice can change many lives forever.

Florida drivers face additional risks from long highway trips, unfamiliar routes, and mixed holiday weather. State data show that impaired driving is involved in about one quarter of all motor vehicle deaths in Florida. Congested interstates, heavy tourist traffic, and late night driving can reduce reaction time. When drivers speed or look at their phones instead of the road, the chance of a serious crash rises quickly.

What Types Of Thanksgiving Accidents Often Lead To Injury Claims?

Car accidents

Most common Thanksgiving related injury events.
Include rear end impacts, multi vehicle pileups, unsafe lane changes, and left turn collisions.
Injuries may involve broken bones, spinal damage, head trauma, or hidden internal injuries.

Drunk driving crashes

Especially dangerous during Thanksgiving travel and celebrations.
Impaired drivers may speed, drift across lanes, ignore red lights, or drive the wrong way.
Victims often suffer permanent injuries or loss of life.
Families may pursue wrongful death claims for accountability and financial stability.

Slip and fall incidents

More likely in crowded stores and busy holiday venues.
Wet entryways and cluttered aisles can create hidden hazards.
Guests may slip on unmarked spills or fall on unsafe stairs in rental homes.
Property owners often have a duty to fix hazards or warn visitors within a reasonable time.

Parking lot accidents

Can occur while shopping or visiting family during the holiday.
Poor lighting and unclear traffic markings increase risk for pedestrians.
Speeding drivers and heavy crowds can combine to create serious dangers.

How Can You Reduce The Chance Of A Thanksgiving Crash Or Injury?

You cannot control the actions of every driver or property owner, but you can take smart steps to lower risk. Plan your route in advance, and allow extra time for traffic delays. Leaving earlier in the day can help you avoid the worst congestion and reduce stress behind the wheel. Commit to sober driving for the entire day. If you plan to drink, choose a sober driver before the first drink or arrange a rideshare. Never assume you feel fine to drive after alcohol, even if you only had a few drinks. Buzzed driving can still slow your reactions and impair judgment.

Limit distractions while driving, especially on crowded highways. Put your phone in a console, ask a passenger to handle navigation, and avoid eating while you drive. Short breaks during long trips can reduce fatigue and help you stay focused on the road ahead. Hosts and property owners can improve safety for guests. Clear walkways, secure loose rugs, and clean up spills as soon as possible. Check outdoor lighting and handrails before guests arrive. Small fixes can prevent serious falls and protect both visitors and property owners from avoidable harm.

Shoppers can also protect themselves by watching for wet floors and cluttered aisles. Choose sturdy footwear, and use handrails on stairs or escalators when available.

What Should You Do After A Thanksgiving Accident Or Injury?

Your health comes first after any accident. Call emergency services when needed and follow medical advice, even if you feel shaken but think you are fine. Some injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, may not show full symptoms until hours or days later.

Try to document the scene if it is safe to do so. Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, weather, and visible injuries. In a fall case, photograph the hazard, such as liquid on the floor or broken lighting. Collect names and contact details for witnesses and any responding officers.

Report the crash or incident to the proper parties as soon as possible. For vehicle collisions, notify your insurance carrier and, when appropriate, law enforcement. For injuries in a store or other property, request an incident report and ask for a copy. Keep copies of medical records, bills, and time missed from work.

Avoid posting about the accident on social media. Insurance companies may search your online accounts and try to use posts against you. Short, emotional updates can be misunderstood and may harm your future claim.

How Can A Personal Injury Attorney Help After A Holiday Accident?

A personal injury attorney can guide you through complex insurance rules and legal deadlines. For accidents after March twenty fourth, twenty twenty three, many Florida negligence lawsuits must be filed within two years. Missing that deadline can permanently destroy your right to seek compensation for your losses.

An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and identify all responsible parties. When a car crash occurs, responsible parties may include impaired drivers or careless employers. Some situations even extend liability to bars that overserve obviously intoxicated patrons. In premises cases, responsibility may fall on property owners, managers, or maintenance contractors.

Your lawyer can also protect you from aggressive insurance tactics. Adjusters may contact you quickly and push for a fast, low settlement before you understand your injuries. They may ask for recorded statements that seem friendly but are designed to limit payouts. An attorney can handle communications and negotiations for you.

In many cases, a skilled injury lawyer can help clients recover payment for medical expenses and lost wages. Legal claims may also seek compensation for pain, suffering, and needed future care. When a loved one dies, the family may also pursue wrongful death damages, subject to Florida statutes. Every situation is different, so careful review is essential.

When Should You Reach Out To Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys?

If you or a loved one suffers an injury during Thanksgiving travel or gatherings, you are not alone. Prompt legal guidance can help you manage the aftermath and protect important rights. Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys offers free, no obligation case evaluations for injury victims and families across Florida. Our firm has decades of combined experience handling car crashes, falls, and other serious injury cases. We understand how one holiday accident can disrupt work, family life, and long term health.

We also understand the financial pressure that follows unexpected injuries. That is why our firm works on a contingency fee basis in injury cases. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. As you celebrate Thanksgiving today, we hope you enjoy time with loved ones and travel safely. If the unexpected happens, know that you have rights and options under Florida law. Our team stands ready to listen, answer questions, and fight for the compensation you deserve.