Warmer weather not only brings us BBQs and days at the beach, it also delivers an increase in personal injuries. Beginning in May and extending through August, Emergency Rooms nationwide experience about an 18 percent increase in patients seeking treatment for injuries. What makes summer so risky?
On the Road
Whether it’s motorcycling, boating, or simply driving to the summer cabin, folks are on the road more frequently during the summer. As a result, more traffic, greater distances traveled, and even road construction increase the odds of a car accident.
Other factors that contribute to potential car accidents include:
- A greater number of drunk drivers behind the wheel
- More inexperienced, young drivers on the road
- An increase in cyclists and pedestrians on the road
In the Backyard
You don’t want to risk it on the road with the holiday traffic, so you decide to just staycation in your own back yard. Sounds safe, right? Not necessarily.
Between swimming pools, trampolines, bonfires and bicycles, your backyard may be more dangerous than you think. According to the National Safety Council, in 2016 almost 24 million people sought medical treatment for preventable accidents that occurred in the home.
Some in-home risk factors include:
- Alcohol-laden pool parties
- Unsupervised children around a pool
- Falls on slippery surfaces
- Tumbles off trampolines
- Biting dogs
At the Lake
Every summer, more than 74 million Americans enjoy spending some recreation time bobbing around on a boat, kayak, canoe, or jet ski. Unfortunately, it’s not always smooth sailing for all these mariners.
The Coast Guard reports that in 2017, there were 4,291 boating accidents that resulted in 658 deaths, 2629 injuries, and $46 million dollars in property damage. Sadly, a large percentage of these incidents were preventable had the boaters worn their life jackets or abstained from drinking alcohol while boating.
Personal Injury Doesn’t Take a Holiday
Unfortunately, personal injuries don’t take a holiday during the summer. If you or a loved one are involved in an accident and sustain an injury, it’s critical you seek medical treatment immediately. And if your injuries are the result of someone’s negligence, it’s important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
If you need legal assistance and you’re in Minnesota, we encourage you to call our office at 763-241-0477 today for more information.
