July 4th Accidents: Increased Risk of Injury or Death This Holiday Weekend

Fourth of July Dangers: Serious or Fatal Injuries over Independence Day Holiday

This week we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, with a four-day weekend.  The Fourth of July is a federal holiday, as well as a state holiday in both Indiana and Illinois.

For many of us, we will enjoy a four-day weekend, since July the 4^th hits on a Thursday this year.  The longer holiday invites a bigger celebration.  Friends and families can gather together to enjoy picnics, barbecues, fishing trips, and fireworks since they have a longer four-day time frame within which to travel.

In fact, we’re expected to set travel records this week as people set out in their cars, as well as on planes, trains, and buses to enjoy their Fourth of July holiday.  From a safety perspective, of course, this comes with a concern for the increasing road traffic this week.

Unprecedented Risk of Crash: Record-Breaking Number of Travelers on Roads Over July 4^th Weekend

More people are expected to be on the roads over the upcoming four-day holiday weekend than on any previous Independence Day since AAA began keeping track of holiday travel statistics.  The number of motor vehicles on our roads are expected to exceed 41,000,000 according to AAA statisticians, with Wednesday (July 3^rd) being the most-congested day to travel.

From AAA Travel vice president Paula Twidale:

“As Independence Day approaches, it’s time for the much loved family road trip and this year will be one for the record books, with more Americans than ever planning vacations.  This holiday builds on the strong travel demand seen for Memorial Day, and with schools now out of session across the country, families coast to coast are eager to travel.”

With more people driving on our roads this holiday weekend than ever before, understandably the danger of a serious or fatal motor vehicle accident will escalate.  Throughout Indiana and Illinois, travelers and other drivers on our roadways will be facing an increased risk of being the victim of a crash.

Drunk Drivers: Highest Percentage on the Roads during July 4^th Holiday Weekend

Illinois’ National Safety Council (NSC) concurs with AAA’s forecasts.  The NSC is warning that as many as 64,500 people will be seriously injured in Fourth of July auto accidents and another 565 crash victims will tragically die from bodily injuries sustained in a July 4^th crash.

The biggest concern from NSC’s perspective?  Drivers who are operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  Their records reveal that 39% of the traffic accident deaths of the 2017 July 4^th Holiday weekend involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

The NSC warns that the Fourth of July Weekend has more drunk drivers on the road than any other major holiday in this country.

Other Fourth of July Dangers: Fireworks

Tradition insists that our July 4^th festivities include fireworks.  There will be professional fireworks displays throughout Indiana and Illinois, as well as people enjoying fireworks purchased from retail fireworks stores set up especially for the holiday.

More Fires Than Any Other Time of Year

Our fire departments will be called upon to put out more fires over the Fourth of July Holiday than any other time of the year, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.  The reason?  Fireworks.

Sadly, many of these fires will result in injuries to children.  The NFPA estimates that around 35% of fire injuries treated in emergency rooms over the Independence Day holiday involve minors between the ages of 5 and 15 years.

Fire injuries, especially for children and young adults, can be especially tragic.  For those that survive, there can be severe scarring and the need for reconstructive surgery(ies).  Burn injuries are among the most painful and life-altering of all accident injuries that victims can face. 

For more, read: Burn Injuries and Death from Accident Burns.

Justice for Fourth of July Accident Victims and Their Families

Anyone driving over this Independence Day Holiday Weekend needs to be extremely cautious of the increased dangers facing them on the roads right now.  Beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, July 3^rd), there will be more vehicles on our roads; in fact, Chicago is expected to have its biggest travel delays tomorrow afternoon.

Having so many more drivers on the roads alone is enough to increase the risk of a severe or fatal crash.  This risk only increases with the growing number of impatient drivers or angry drivers faced with snarls or stops.

Drivers who cause accidents by driving recklessly or emotionally will be liable under Indiana and Illinois personal injury laws for the harm that results from their negligent driving.

Then there are the warnings against drunk driving being circulated on television and in social media.  However, these warnings against buzzed driving need to include not only the driver but those supplying that driver with alcoholic beverages.

In both Indiana and Illinois, there are personal injury laws that may make those who provided beer, wine, or cocktails to someone who later drove drunk and caused a serious or fatal crash to share liability for that accident. 

See:

• Drunk Driving Accident: Who’s Legally Liable? Answer is Different for Indiana and Illinois
• Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Social Party Hosts, Bars, Restaurants.

Finally, anyone who suffers burns as the result of a Fourth of July firework may have claims against those who sold the product, or those responsible for the pyrotechnics show.  This is true both for guests, customers, and residents, as well as workers within the pyrotechnics industry.

Both negligence and product liability laws may come into play for these burn victims seeking justice after suffering a serious or fatal fireworks injury.

See:

• Fireworks Accidents: The Risk of Injury From Fireworks in Indiana and Illinois
• Fireworks Accidents: Be Very Careful of Fireworks Over Fourth of July Holiday
• Fireworks Fun Will End In Serious Injury or Death for Many This Fourth of July According to CPRC Report Predictions: Know the Dangers of Fireworks This July 4th
• Burn Injuries in the News: Reminder of How Severe and Serious Burn Damages Are for Accident Victims.

Let’s all enjoy and celebrate without incident this holiday weekend!  Please be careful out there!