Fourth of July is a beloved holiday that commemorates our nation’s freedom and gives Americans an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones. Whether you’re going on vacation or staying close to home this July 4th, our Bucks County severe injury attorney encourages you to be vigilant about keeping yourself and the ones you love safe as you relax and enjoy some holiday fun. Here’s our advice on avoiding the potential risks associated with some of the most popular Fourth of July activities:
- Fireworks – Lighting off your own fireworks display is certainly thrilling, but it’s important to remember that even seemingly innocent consumer fireworks such as sparklers can be dangerous if they aren’t used as directed. To minimize the chances of an incident occurring if you choose to shoot off fireworks for the holiday, be sure that all items are legal and set off by a sober, responsible adult. Keep children and pets a safe distance from fireworks, and supervise kids carefully if allowing them to use sparklers. Furthermore, make sure there’s a bucket of water or a working hose nearby, and allow all fireworks to cool and then soak in cold water before disposing of them.
- Swimming – Assuming the weather cooperates, odds are you’ll find yourself cooling off in a body of water at least once over the holiday. When in or close to a swimming pool, lake or ocean, our severe injury attorney in Bucks County can’t stress enough how important it is to use caution and follow common-sense water safety rules. For example, children – even those who can swim – should be kept under close supervision at all times, and you should get out of the water immediately and seek shelter if a storm rolls in. At public bodies of water, teach kids to swim close to the lifeguard stand, but don’t rely on lifeguards to watch your children for you. The water will likely be crowded over July 4th, making it harder for lifeguards to spot drowning swimmers.
- Boating – Although boating accidents can happen at any time, they’re much more likely to occur when there are a lot of people out enjoying the water – as you can expect there will be during your Fourth of July outings! With this in mind, you should be extra careful about how you navigate your boat. Limit your speed in busy areas, and before changing course, be sure to signal your intention to any nearby boaters. And whether your vessel of choice is human powered or motorized, make sure everyone aboard wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest at all times.
- Traveling – In addition to bringing more people onto the water, the Fourth of July will also increase traffic on the roads as families drive to their holiday destinations. To keep yourself and your passengers out of harm’s way, only drive when you’re mentally alert and fully focused on the road, and be sure to maintain a safe following distance. If you’re driving with kids in the car, it’s a good idea to have an adult sit in the back to keep them occupied and prevent them from distracting you while you’re behind the wheel.
Heeding this advice from our Bucks County severe injury attorney will help you and the people you care about celebrate the Fourth of July with minimal risk of injury.
For Compassionate & Skilled Legal Guidance, Accident Victims Rely on Us
No matter how cautious you are this July 4th, the unfortunate truth is that others might not be quite as careful, potentially leading to you or a loved one getting hurt. In the event that an incident occurs as a result of another party’s negligent behavior, you can rely on Gary Heslin to serve as your severe injury lawyer in Bucks County. Since founding the Heslin Law Firm more than 30 years ago, Mr. Heslin has dedicated himself to helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve.
To learn more about what makes Mr. Heslin the severe injury attorney Bucks County can depend on or to schedule a free consultation with him, call our office at (215) 332-0300. We wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July, but just in case a situation arises in which you need legal assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.