This Memorial Day weekend, take care to stay safe.
Across California and Arizona, people will honor the lives of the service men and women who lost their lives defending our country this weekend as we celebrate Memorial Day. As with many other patriotic holidays, Memorial Day is a long weekend, which gives many Americans a day off of work, and time to plan picnics, parties, and trips out of town. While this holiday weekend can be a lot of fun, it also presents serious dangerous.
Memorial Day weekend is the start of what is known as the “100 deadliest days” on American highways and roads. Fatal traffic accident rates are the highest in the summer, due in part to increased traffic. Teens are at greatest risk of being in a deadly car accident during the summer months. Over Memorial Day weekend, alcohol plays a major role in car accidents, with a large percentage of crashes attributed to drivers who are impaired due to alcohol and/or drug use.
While you cannot prevent other people from drinking and driving or from other unsafe driving behaviors, you can take precautions to lower your own risk of being in a fatal car accident. This includes always buckling up and making sure that your kids are in appropriate child safety seats or booster seats. If you are going to be at a party, do not drink and drive; either have a designated driver, don’t drink, or plan to stay over wherever you will be. Also, don’t text and drive or use your phone at all while driving, as distracted driving is also a leading cause of car accidents. Staying alert and driving defensively can help to prevent many car accidents. You should also allow for plenty of time to get to wherever you are going so that you do not feel the need to speed.
Beyond the road, other types of accidents are also common on Memorial Day weekend, including those involving boats. If you are going to be on a boat over the weekend, make sure that whoever is driving the boat is sober. Drinking and driving a boat is a crime. It is also incredibly dangerous to swim while intoxicated, so avoid excessive alcohol if you are hanging out at the pool or swimming at a lake or other body of water. If there are kids near the water, make sure they are appropriate supervised to avoid tragedy this holiday weekend.
Holiday weekends should be a time of relaxing with family and friends. Staying safe during these times requires some advance planning, particularly if you plan on drinking, but it is the best possible way to make sure that you and your loved ones enjoy the Memorial Day weekend responsibly.
If you or someone that you love is hurt over Memorial Day weekend or at any other time of the year, the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker can help. Our team of dedicated attorneys and professionals are here for victims of accidents, and have a 95% record of success. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Contact us today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney. Initial consultations are always free.
