4th of July Accident and Safety in Los Angeles
The 4th of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the United States.
Americana runs free on the 4th of July. Some of the most common 4th of July activities include:
- Fireworks
- BBQ’s and cookouts with hotdogs and burgers
- Parades like the Independence Day parade in Washington D.C.
- Baseball
Many Americans, including residents of Southern California, will travel this 4th of July to parties and picnics. With more people traveling via the freeways, there becomes a greater risk for car accidents.
In 2022, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimated there were 462 traffic fatalities on the 4th of July. This is a 181 percent increase over 2018 estimates.
There are many different causes of accidents on the 4th of July. In terms of car accidents, one of the leading sources of crashes involved impaired driving.
Alcoholic beverages at 4th of July parties are about as common as hot dog buns and mustard. Drinking too many beers at a party can inebriate drivers and greatly affect their ability to control a vehicle.
Impaired driving, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, represented 30 percent of all driving fatalities in 2020.
During the 4th of July holiday period, the number jumps to 41 percent. This is the highest percentage of all major holidays in the study, including New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, and Christmas.
Furthermore, the numbers for drunk driving accidents have increased year over year.
There are several signs of a drunk driver, including:
- Driving over/under the speed limit
- Not following traffic signs or signals (lights, stop signs)
- Traveling the wrong way down a one-way street
- Traveling the wrong way onto an exit ramp
- Swerving between lanes of traffic
- Driving without headlights at night
If you come into contact with a drunk driver while traveling on the 4th of July, try maintaining safety by:
- Drive behind them, not ahead of or next to them.
- Contact appropriate authorities as soon as you see the drunk driver.
- Pull over.
- Don’t antagonize or try getting them to pull over.
Additionally, be sure to wear your seatbelt. Based on the projected number of vehicle occupants who will wear seat belts, an estimated 184 lives could be saved during the 4th of July period, according to the NSC.
Common injuries after being struck by a drunk driver may include:
- Neck injuries
- Broken Bones
- Back injuries
- Cuts and Lacerations
- Chronic back or neck pain
- Internal bleeding
- Paralysis or other mobility problems
- Head Injuries like concussions or another traumatic brain injury
- Loss of limbs
- Wrongful Death
Another extremely dangerous amount of 4th of July accidents involve fireworks. While many Californians choose to attend professional firework shows, others choose to light fireworks in their backyard, on their block, etc.
All fireworks are illegal in the city of Los Angeles unless they are handled by a licensed professional. Firework accidents may lead to numerous injuries, including:
- Burns
- Hand injuries (an estimated 28 percent of all firework injuries are to the hands/fingers)
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Additionally, someone may get injured in a slip and fall running from a miscalculated firework. Slips and falls can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and other serious ramifications.
An injury would need to have negligence to prove that another party was responsible. In many cases with fireworks, it’s hard to hold someone else liable for the injury, especially if the victim willingly lit the explosives.
Now, imagine a situation where you and your friends attend a 4th of July fireworks show at a nearby park. During the course of the event, there’s a firework malfunction that sends multiple sparks and flames into the crowd.
If you suffered burn injuries after being struck by a firework, or fell and broke your hip trying to escape the dangers, you should have a better chance of a case.
The producers of the event are liable to provide guests with the utmost safety. If there was a risk of fireworks entering the audience, or not enough space for guests to carefully exit the premises, they may be found negligent for compromising your well-being.
The 4th of July should be celebrated by waving miniature flags and devouring juicy cheeseburgers. If a personal injury took away your freedom to do so, contact an LA lawyer about the situation.
At C&B Law Group, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are ready to help those who suffered injuries as the result of an accident on the 4th of July.
We can assist with various personal injuries, including claims for:
Don’t wait. Reach out to the SoCal personal injury lawyers at C&B Law Group today to learn more about a free consultation.
