How To Have A Safe Independence Day
Each year, countless Floridians are injured on and around Independence Day, July 4. While the holiday is known for great fireworks displays and parties, there are steps you can take to ensure that you can still enjoy yourself without putting you or your loved ones in danger. In addition, if you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Firework Accidents
One of the most common ways in which injuries and fatalities occur around the 4th of July is when fireworks are involved. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in the month surrounding July 4 in any given year, around 280 people wind up in the emergency room due to fireworks-related injuries, with approximately 53 percent of those injuries being serious burns. Whether it is at a public fireworks display or a backyard event, fireworks can act in ways that no one anticipates, and serious injury or even death can occur as a result.
The most common reasons for fireworks accidents are negligence (either on the part of the injured person themselves, or the person setting off the fireworks), or defective products. Obviously, if you are injured due to your own negligence, there is no compensation to be had, but if you are able to establish that the firework was defective, or that the person setting off the fireworks acted in a negligent manner, you may be able to recover your medical bills, as well as damages for pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and the like.
Alcohol Safety
The other major culprit in Independence Day injuries is alcohol, whether on the roads, at a party, or at home. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that more people die in car crashes on Independence Day than any other day of the year, per capita, with roughly 47 percent of the fatalities on that day involving at least one person with a blood alcohol content over the limit (.08 percent). Holidays in the U.S. often include drinking traditions, which, in addition to car crashes, can also lead to accidents at home or at parties.
If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence with alcohol, the manner in which you were injured will determine what options you have in terms of seeking compensation. If you are hurt in a car crash with a drunk driver, you will generally be required to go through Florida’s no-fault system to have your bills paid, unless you suffer a particularly serious injury, for which you can then bring suit. If you are injured in the home or at someone else’s home or business, you may be able to bring a personal injury suit under a theory of negligence or premises liability. Contacting an attorney is a good idea, either way.
Contact A Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The Fourth of July can still be a holiday full of fun and good times with family and friends, but it is a good idea for all of us to try and make it a little safer for all involved. If you are injured on or around Independence Day, calling an experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer is a good idea so that you can get some of your questions answered about where to go from here. Call the Rinaldo Law Group today for a free initial consultation.
Resources:
iihs.org/news/detail/independence-day-ranks-highest-in-average-daily-crash-deaths
cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/
https://www.tampainjuryaccidentlaw.com/multi-vehicle-car-crashes-in-florida/
