A recent study finds an interesting link between NFL losses and car accidents. Now that the Rams have returned to Los Angeles and the Chargers are located here in Orange County, NFL football has more of an impact on our communities. Many people are aware of the obvious associations between Super Bowl Sunday, alcohol and related car accidents. Alcohol-related crashes are significantly higher on Super Bowl weekend each year, particularly on game day Sunday.
But there are other associations between NFL football and car accidents which many people may not be aware of. For instance, a recent analysis of crash data by the Highway Loss Data Institute reveals that in zip codes in and around NFL football stadiums you could basically determine who won or lost a home game based the number of auto accident collision claims filed with insurers.
It should come as no surprise that on days of home games, there are more collisions (and therefore more collision claims) in the zip codes where stadiums are located and in surrounding zip codes. This could largely be attributed to more traffic coming to and from the stadium.
Here’s where the data get interesting: A home team win or loss seems to affect the rate of accident claims in a given area. On days when the home teams won their game, collision claims were just 3.2 percent higher than normal. On days when the home team either tied the game or lost outright, however, collision and related injury claims were 9.4 percent higher than normal.
The precise factors that account for this difference are unclear. Do fans drink more at games where the home team is losing? Are fans more likely to be distracted driving home? Are fans more likely to drive aggressively when upset about a loss?
The interesting link between NFL losses and car accidents is helpful to be aware of. If you or someone you love is injured in a car accident in Orange County or Los Angeles we invite you to contact the Law Firm of Rivers Morrell or call 949-305-1400 to speak with an experienced injury attorney personally for a free consultation. Learn how to protect your rights and ensure you receive the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled by law.