The 4th of July is a time of celebration. Many families and friends gather together to enjoy a variety of activities, from boating to sports to barbeques to fireworks.
It is unfortunate that this holiday also has the designation of being a time when many people are injured either because of their own actions or the actions of others.
Many of the activities enjoyed this time of the year can leave people injured. That’s why it’s important to understand that, even though you may be planning a fun holiday, there are risks.
Here are some of the most common injuries sustained during the 4th of July in Florida and what legal recourse you may have if you are injured.
Most Common Holiday Injuries in Florida
There are several activities that have the disturbing designation as the most common ways to become seriously injured in Florida over this holiday. They include:
Car Accidents
Independence Day is one of the most dangerous days to be on the road. The National Safety Council reports that there are more than 50,000 injuries caused by car accidents over the holiday, as well as more than 400 deaths.
This is due to several factors, including more cars on the road, more people driving when drunk, and more distracted teen drivers on the roads.
Boating Accidents
In Florida, many people love to go out on their boats to celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, this is also a way many people sustain injuries over the 4th of July.
Boating accident rates increase over this time of the year for several reasons, including:
- Boating while intoxicated
- Violating navigation rules
- Inattention while operating a boat
- Faulty machinery
- Speeding
- Inexperience operating a boat
- Cooking fires
This holiday is perfect for a cookout, but if you’re cooking over an open flame outdoors you need to be careful – it’s one of the most common ways people are injured. In fact, injuries related to cooking fires are the most common claim filed to insurance for the 4th of July.
Children can get injured around cooking fires, and fires can easily spread if they’re not watched.
Pool Accidents
A good pool party is always in the cards, but Independence Day sees a lot of pool parties. Children can be left unsupervised, people can slip on wet surfaces around the pool, and many people drink alcohol and use the pool – all of which can lead to pool injuries.
Fireworks Injuries
Probably the most famous way to sustain injury during this holiday is via fireworks. After all, people are handling explosive devices…. So sometimes things are bound to go wrong.
The U.S. Fire Administration has reported as many as 9,000 injuries related to fireworks that require emergency care each year during the 4th of July. Severe burns, eye injuries, and hearing loss are the most common ways people are injured by fireworks.
What You Can Do If Injured
If you become injured this holiday, then whether or not you can receive compensation depends on the circumstances surrounding your case.
If you were the victim of an injury due to the negligence of another, you should consult with an attorney to move your case forward. If you believe product defects caused your injuries, then you may have a case there as well.
The goal every 4th of July is to have fun and be safe, but if something does go wrong, then you should find out how you can be compensated for your injuries.
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and named one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators. Mr. Winston is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2020 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite,” recognized by Expertise as one of the 20 Best Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys, named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015-2017, and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for 2015-2017 and 2019.
