Celebrate Safely This Fourth of July

July 1, 2015

The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. The warm weather, summer vacations and patriotic sentiment make this a fun and relaxing holiday. The bad news about this holiday is that thousands of people are injured in accidents caused by the negligence of others on the days surrounding the Fourth.

Several activities, accidents and products may result in serious injuries on the Fourth of July, including:

Fireworks: Fireworks are highly regulated under Florida law and safety advocacy groups have been advising people to stop using these products for decades. Despite their dangers, fireworks continue to be an integral part of Fourth of July celebrations. Please remember that these devices can cause serious injury when improperly designed, manufactured or handled.

DUI Accidents: Holidays are usually a time to gather with friends and family to eat, drink and have a relaxing time. These occasions are also closely tied with the consumption of alcohol and, unfortunately, that usually means people drinking and driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the Fourth of July has many fatal car accidents, and an estimated 40 percent of those crashes are attributed to drunk driving.

Barbeque Grills: Grilling is a big tradition for many Florida residents around the Fourth of July holiday. However, any time open flames are involved there is a serious risk for injury and burns. In some cases, grills may be defective and can malfunction, resulting in fires and causing injuries. Children can easily injure themselves on grills due to a lack of supervision by adults.

Boating and Water Accidents: To celebrate Independance Day, many people head to Pine Island Beach, Hernando Beach, the WeekiWachee River or the Withlacoochee River to swim, participate in watersports or just to spend the day relaxing on a boat. While boating and water-related activities can be a great way to spend a weekend, they also carry high risks such as drowning and other types of accidents. Distracted, impaired and inexperienced boat drivers can cause water crashes resulting in serious injuries. Moreover, children who are not properly supervised or do not have adequate flotations devices can easily drown or suffer in near-drowning accidents.

Contact a Hernando County Personal Injury Attorney Today for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured in an accident during Fourth of July celebrations or any other time this summer, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Our dedicated Hernando County Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are committed to helping injury victims obtain the maximum award possible, and we will work hard to hold any and all negligent parties legally liable. To schedule a free consultation with us, please call 352-666-2121 or contact us online.