What You Don’t Want to Include in Your Holiday Budget

With Thanksgiving falling later than usual this year, there are fewer days to shop for Christmas, and that could result in more traffic congestion on our roadways in the final weeks leading up to Christmas.  This is because frantic shoppers are hurrying to make those final purchases. 

Last-minute shopping, coupled with the pressure of locating the right item at the store with the lowest price, leads to stress.  When people are stressed, they tend to drive more aggressively. 

The holidays are also a time for family gatherings and holiday parties, most of which include food and drinks; for some, too many drinks.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving accidents account for 31 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, thousands of drivers and passengers lose their lives each year because of drunk driving.

Most people would never imagine that their holiday celebration could result in serious injuries or death, but the risks associated with distracted driving or driving while impaired are very real.  Unless you want to spend a lot more than you budgeted for this holiday season, drive responsibly.  Slow down, put down the phone, and focus on the road.  You can also avoid an accident by being mindful of your surroundings and other drivers.  Many accidents have been avoided by anticipating other drivers’ moves.  Taking all possible precautions will help increase your chances of safe traveling.  If each of us does our part to increase safety on our roadways, just maybe we will see less serious and fatal auto accidents this holiday season.

Mark Bello has thirty-six years experience as a trial lawyer and fourteen years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by a plaintiff involved in pending, personal injury, litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Member of Public Justice, Public Citizen, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.