The New York City injury lawyers and the staff at Queller, Fisher, Washor Fuchs and Kool wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July. Please celebrate responsibly, don't drink and drive, practice safe boating and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly 18 percent more drivers are expected to hit the roads during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to AAA estimates. That means more than 32 million motorists will be on the road over the long holiday weekend. While New Year's gets most of the attention when it comes to drunk driving and the risk of traffic accidents, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July have been the deadliest holidays on the nation's roads in recent years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
And Fourth of July brings with it the greatest holiday risk for a New York car accident.
Fatal holiday accidents in New York during 2008:
New Years: 3
Memorial Day: 20
Fourth of July: 21
Labor Day: 12
Thanksgiving: 16
Christmas: 10
Not surprisingly, New York fireworks accidents are most likely to occur around the Fourth of July. Fireworks cause a large number of serious injuries each year. In 2006, 11 people were killed and more than 9,200 were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than two-thirds of all fireworks injuries occur during Fourth of July celebrations. One-third of accidents involve children under 15 and nearly half involve young people under the age of 20.
Fireworks injuries most frequently involve the hands, eyes, and head, face and ears. Blindness, third-degree burns, permanent scarring and home and vehicle fires are common dangers. Firecrackers cause the greatest number of injuries, followed by sparklers and rockets.
The most frequent causes of fireworks accidents include high-grade fireworks sold to consumers, being too close to fireworks, operator error, child curiosity and experimentation with homemade devices.
If you are injured by fireworks, either on someone else's property or during a fireworks show, consulting a New York City injury attorney could help protect your rights.
If you are injured in an accident over the Fourth of July holiday, contact Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 866-LifeLaw (866-543-3529).
