South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
Our Broward Injury lawyers wish you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend.
This holiday weekend, people will be out in force celebrating our nation’s independence. Of course, the many beautiful beaches will be a huge attraction. People will be swimming or riding personal watercraft close to shore, while others head out in boats to fish and enjoy a nice day on the water. Those staying away from the shore may be enjoying family barbeques or hanging out at the pool. While all of these activities can be a lot of fun, you should be alert for certain dangers you may face this holiday weekend.
Over the holiday weekend, authorities are prepared for a higher than average number of car crashes. There are many reasons for this increase, including more people drinking and driving on the Fourth of July and more teens taking to the road now that schools are out.
Teen driving fatalities are higher this time of year than any other period. The National Safety Council calls the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. We are right in the middle of that period this holiday weekend. At the start of the 100 days, the Miami Examiner reported that South Florida ranks particularly high in terms of traffic accidents, and rates involving teen crashes are expected to climb even higher this time of year. In an effort to curb this, AT&T is asking all drivers, including teens, to take part in the “It can wait” movement, which is a pledge to never text and drive. As you may be aware, distracted driving is one of the major causes of car accidents and teens are among the most frequent texters. It may be a good idea to stay off the phone entirely while driving. While mobile apps and hands free devices can aid us in performing many tasks, research still suggests that this causes drivers to be distracted, resulting in car crashes.
Research also suggests that many teen traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. The National Safety Council recommends that parents speak with their teens about the dangers of driving while intoxicated and texting while driving.
Aside from driving, we generally see an increase in accidents at the pool over the holiday period. If you take your family to the pool, please watch your children closely at all times. In real life, drowning often doesn’t involving thrashing in the water like we have seen on TV or at the movies. A drowning victim may be at the point of physical exhaustion and experiencing hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen to the brain, before you even realize the person is in trouble.
Yet another tip we can offer to help you stay safe this Fourth of July weekend is to leave the fireworks to the professionals. A backyard fireworks display can result in serious personal injury and property damage not only to those shooting off the fireworks but to neighbors as well. You should also keep in mind that any fireworks that fly or explode are illegal in the state of Florida.
Call Freeman Injury Law — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your rights.
Additional Resources:
100 Deadliest Days, Miami, May 23, 2013, Miami Examiner
More Blog Entries:
Drunk Driving Wrongful Death Lawsuit Derailed Over Pre-Trial Notice Issue, May 27, 2014, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog