Each year, the Fourth of July is one of the busiest days of the year for emergency responders, police officers and firefighters. People tend to consume a lot of alcohol, and some make the mistake of getting behind the wheel or operating a boat while impaired. And, of course, there are the scores of untrained people using fireworks on the holiday.
Below are some of the most common accidents occurring each Independence Day:
- Fireworks accidents: Fireworks caused four deaths in 2016 and have been responsible for 114 deaths since 2001. There are about four injuries for every 100,000 pounds of fireworks used, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Most fireworks injuries are caused by a serious misuse of the products. New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul brought the issue to the forefront in 2015 when he seriously disfigured his right hand in an accident.
- Impaired driving accidents: Law enforcement officials across the country ramp up their drunk driving enforcement over the Fourth of July every year, expecting more drivers to be out on the road after consuming alcohol. According to information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, July 4 had the second-highest rate of car deaths linked to alcohol between 2010 and 2014 — with July 3 also in the top 10. It trails only January 1 for single days with high levels of drunk driving car accident deaths.
- Boating accidents: The Fourth of July is one of the deadliest days for boating accidents in the United States. With so many people off work combined with nice weather across the country, people flock to the lakes and oceans and head out on their boats, likely after (or while) consuming alcohol. Crowded waterways with drunk boat operators can create deadly conditions.
Statistics on these categories of accidents for the 2017 holiday are not yet available. However, if you or a loved one suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, speak with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today.