Safety Tips for the 4th of July
The 4th of July holiday is a time when many people have celebrations with fireworks, backyard barbecues or fun on the water. Holiday weekends are also a common time for people to travel for a weekend getaway. As you plan for a fun-filled holiday, the attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal offer the tips below to keep you and your family safe.
Firework Safety Tips
Though fireworks are fun and the most popular activity for celebrating the 4th of July, they are also the source of major injuries every year. In 2019, there were an estimated 7,300 fireworks-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms during the July 4th holiday period. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for 36% of those injuries. Over the years, fireworks you can purchase have becomes professional grade—bigger and louder. Injuries from fireworks can be life-changing. Common injuries include hand or finger amputations, burn injuries, eye injuries, ruptured eardrums and leg injuries. Before you light that first firework:
Read cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
Keep fireworks away from children.
Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
Be sure to keep a shovel, bucket of water or fire extinguisher around in case of a fire.
Dispose of used fireworks by wetting them down and place them in a metal trash can away from any house or building or combustible materials until the next day.
When do I have a firework injury case?
If you suffer an injury from fireworks due to another person’s negligence you may have a claim against the person responsible. Negligence means someone failed to exercise a reasonable level of care that could have prevented your injuries. You may be injured because your neighbor’s fireworks were set off in the street, unbeknownst to you. Or, it was dark and the fireworks used were illegal and you got burned or injured severely due to someone else’s negligence. You could also be injured if someone lit a firework and pointed it directly at you.
Another example of negligence could be that you attended an event and the organizers failed to hire licensed professionals. Maybe safety regulations were ignored, and not enough distance was kept between the fireworks display and the public, causing you or another innocent bystander to get hit. In most cases like this, you would have the right to sue.
Grill Safety
If you are inviting people over for a barbecue, follow the safety tips below for proper grilling procedures:
Wash your hands before preparing the food.
Always supervise the grill when in use. If using a charcoal grill, wait to add the starter fluid until the coals have already been ignited.
Never grill indoors. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
Keep everyone, including children and pets, away from the grill to avoid burns and other injuries.
Boating Safety
Boating on Missouri and Kansas waterways is a common during the 4th of July holiday, but due to their sheer size and high-speed capabilities, operating a boat comes with a variety of safety risks, ranging from property damage to the injury or loss of a loved one. The primary contributing factors to boating accidents include:
Operator inattention or inexperience.
Improper lookout.
Machinery failure – some type of defect with the boat.
Alcohol use.
If you are heading out on the water, please follow these safety tips:
Bring the proper life jackets. By law, all boats must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Some states require children to wear life jackets at all times.
Check the weather beforehand.
Do not overload the boat with people or equipment.
Be sure the boat driver has completed the proper training and certification for operating a boat.
What Should I do if I’m Injured in a Boating Accident?
If you are injured in a boating accident should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit if another person or group caused the accident. If a minor is injured, a parent can bring a claim on the minor’s behalf. Contigo will investigate the accident to determine if there was negligence and who was at fault. We will evaluate the extent of your injuries to determine the full value of your claim and the compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Travel Safety Tips
If you are taking a road trip for the July 4th holiday:
Properly wear your seatbelt (not behind the shoulder). Do not put your seatbelt behind your shoulder and be sure it fits securely to your body. Especially while traveling on long road trips, remember that your seatbelt must always be touching your body for it to work properly.
Do not recline your seat, even though it may seem more comfortable. If you recline your seat, the shoulder belt is not in contact with your body and can no longer protect you. If the seatbelt is not in contact with your body, and your vehicle is involved in an impact, you are at risk of sliding or “submarining” under the seatbelt and becoming paralyzed or suffering severe internal injuries. Or, the shoulder portion of the belt can catch your neck and break it or cause serious injuries.
Do not drive distracted or under the influence of alcohol.
Contact Contigo Centro Legal
The attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal wish you a happy and safe 4th of July. If an unfortunate accident occurs during your holiday, please know our injury lawyers are here to help you. Contigo offers free consultations, which means you pay nothing upfront to have our attorneys evaluate your case. You can contact us by calling 816-800-8000 or clicking on the chat button.