The Fourth of July is one of the biggest holidays of the year, and many Georgians will likely be out and about attending parades, throwing parties, having friends over for barbecues, shooting off fireworks, and traveling to visit friends and family.
While it can be fun to participate in Independence Day festivities, the Fourth of July is also one of the most dangerous holidays of the year. Many people consume higher than usual levels of alcohol at gatherings and parties over the holiday weekend, and as a result, drunk driving crashes tend to spike on July 4th. Motorists who get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol may experience impaired judgment, an inability to focus on the road, and a delayed response time.
However, in addition to impaired driving, there are other risks associated with the Fourth of July holiday. Many people are injured due to dangerous property conditions and in swimming pool accidents. And the others suffer injuries after improperly setting off fireworks.
Still, you can protect yourself from being injured over the Fourth of July weekend by following these safety tips from our Georgia personal injury law firm.
Alcohol
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 493 people died in motor vehicle accidents from 6:00 PM on July 2nd to 5:59 AM on July 6, 2020. About 41 percent of those fatalities were the result of a drunk driving crash. The NHTSA also notes that of the 201 people who perished in impaired driving accidents in 2020, 85 percent of them occurred at night.
Given that the Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous times of year for impaired driving crashes, you should consider following these recommendations to protect yourself:
- Pace yourself – It is not uncommon for people to begin drinking early on the Fourth of July holiday. If you plan to drink during the day, you should pace yourself and limit yourself to a specific number of drinks. You should also consume food and water between drinks.
- Select a designated driver (DD) – If you plan to consume alcohol, you should select someone to be your DD before the day’s festivities begin. Alternatively, you could arrange for a ride-share or taxi to pick you up and take you home at the end of the night.
- Drunk boating is also dangerous – According to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), alcohol use is the leading cause of fatal boating accidents. If you plan to go out boating on the Fourth of July, avoid consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
Alcohol and driving don’t mix, but consuming alcohol before swimming or shooting off fireworks can also have severe consequences.
Swimming Pools
If you own a swimming pool and are planning to host a pool party, you should take certain steps to reduce the risk of injuries and drownings in your pool area. As the pool owner, you have a responsibility to ensure that the areas in and around the swimming pool are safe for your visitors.
Follow these swimming pool safety tips to prevent accidents:
- Make sure that any young children who are using the pool are being supervised by an adult at all times.
- Store life jackets and flotation devices in the pool areas so that they can be easily accessed in an emergency.
- Ensure that pool drains, filters, and other pool features are in good working order.
- Never permit any guest regardless of their age to swim by themselves, since swimmers are less likely to drown if another adult is present in the pool area.
- If your pool isn’t deep enough for diving, you should warn visitors not to dive into the pool.
- Caution visitors against running in the pool area. Running on wet surfaces can easily lead to a slip and fall accident.
- Many swimming pool accidents are caused by alcohol use, so impaired individuals should avoid getting in the pool if they choose to drink, or at the very least remain vigilant and limit alcohol consumption.
If you were injured in a swimming pool accident due to a property owner’s negligence, you could hold the property owner accountable through a premises’ liability claim. You can often file a claim with the property owner’s homeowners insurance policy. This allows you to avoid filing a claim directly against someone that you know, such as a friend or family member.
Dangerous Property Conditions
In Georgia, property owners have a duty of care to prevent visitors to their property from being injured while they are on the premises. If there are any hazards or dangerous conditions on your property, you should eliminate them before inviting your guests over to celebrate the holiday.
- Keep your pets in a secure location during the festivities. Even if your pet has no history of biting or attacking people, they could do so if they feel threatened by a stranger.
- Make sure that any loose extension cords are properly secured to the ground or floor so that guests don’t trip over the cords.
- Clean up potential hazards such as liquid spills to prevent guests from being injured in a slip and fall accident.
- Construct boundaries around dangerous areas to prevent children from being harmed.
If you fail to ensure that your property is safe for visitors and someone gets injured, you could be held liable for their losses. Conversely, if you were injured on another person’s property due to their negligence, you might have grounds to file a premises liability claim against their homeowners insurance policy. You should speak with an attorney right away to evaluate your legal options.
Fireworks in Gwinnett County
Consumer fireworks are legal in Georgia, but if you plan to shoot off fireworks, you should be aware of Gwinnett County’s noise ordinance.
Improperly using fireworks can lead to serious injuries, and alcohol use exacerbates your risk of being harmed. If you plan to shoot off fireworks in Gwinnett County, you need to understand the risks that come with igniting explosives.
- Don’t consume alcohol if you plan to shoot off fireworks.
- Read the instructions before using fireworks.
- Never point fireworks at other people.
- Do not attempt to reignite fireworks that didn’t light the first time.
Failing to properly use fireworks can lead to severe burn injuries, scarring, and permanent disfigurement. Other common contributors to burn injuries on the Fourth of July weekend include campfires and improper grilling.
Contact a Duluth Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence over the Fourth of July weekend, contact a Duluth personal injury attorney at Brauns Law Accident and Injury Lawyer. We have the resources to help you recover your losses, including medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and non-financial losses. Call us today for a free, no-risk case evaluation at 404-418-8244.
