While summertime is often a fun season for traveling and outdoor activities, the increase in hustle and bustle can lead to more injury-causing accidents.
Of course, you shouldn’t let this stop you from going out and enjoying the warm weather. Just keep in mind that it’s important to be extra cautious when participating in summer activities.
Read on to learn about four types of injury-causing accidents that increase during the summertime.
#1 - Car Accidents
Unfortunately, more people lose their lives in car accidents during the summer than at any other time of year.
As you can see from the graph above by the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2020, the highest number of car accident fatalities occurred during the month of August with a total of 3,802 deaths. July was not far behind with a total of 3,789 car crash fatalities, and in June there were 3,725 car accident deaths.
However, it is interesting to note that the car accident fatality rate remained high in 2020 until November, when it finally tapered off slightly to 3,445 deaths. In fact, September saw 3,724 car accident fatalities, and there were 3,793 car crash deaths in October.
One reason for this is that the weather tends to remain warm in most parts of the country throughout September and October. The average daily temperature tends to begin falling in November, which coincides with the reduced car accident fatality rate.
Similarly, there is an increased likelihood that students attending school spend more time behind the wheel during the summer since they are on a break from classes and have more free hours to burn.
In addition, more people go out and enjoy nightlife activities, including drinking alcohol, during the summer when the evening weather is warmer. This often leads to an increase in car accidents as a result of intoxicated drivers.
#2 - Swimming Pool Accidents
There’s no doubt that it is usually a very joyful and memorable time to be in and around the water during the summer. Unfortunately, it is possible for serious injuries to occur as a result of accidents in and around the swimming pool.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other than birth defects, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one through four. Similarly, for children ages one through fourteen, drowning is the second leading cause of death due to an accidental injury, only second to car accidents.
The CDC estimates that there are 3,960 deadly accidental drownings in the United States each year, which amounts to an average of 11 drowning fatalities each day. Additionally, there are an estimated 8,080 drownings each year that are not deadly, which amounts to an average of 22 nonfatal drownings each day.
Sadly, even if someone is able to escape a drowning accident with their life, it is still possible for brain damage and other serious consequences to occur, including long-term disability.
Upwards of 40% of people treated in emergency rooms for drowning injuries are required to be hospitalized or transferred to another medical facility for additional treatment.
For each child who loses their life as a result of a drowning accident, eight more are treated in the emergency room for non-deadly drowning injuries.
Much of the time, when swimming pool accidents occur, they are the result of some sort of unsafe condition that could have been prevented. Similarly, most public swimming pools are required to have lifeguards on duty, and these lifeguards are legally obligated to provide medical care when it is necessary to do so.
#3 - Fire and Burn Accidents
There is no better time than the summer season to enjoy an evening outside with friends and family cooking food on the barbeque. Even though you have probably used your grill tons of times, it’s important you’re never so confident behind the fire that you let your guard down.
Unfortunately, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in the United States, there are over 10,000 home and outdoor fires that involve grills each year. As a result of these fires, there tends to be an average of 10 fatalities, 160 injuries, and $149 million in direct property damage every year.
NFPA data shows that most grill fires occur in July at a rate of 18%, followed by June at 15%, and then May at 13%. However, August is not far behind, as 12% of home grill fires occur during this month.
It is important to consider that about half of the injuries due to grills or barbeques are because of thermal burns. Thermal burns are non-fire burns that are often the result of contact with a grill or its contents. Sadly, children younger than five years old tend to account for two-fifths of grill contact burns.
Some examples of thermal burns include:
- Relighting a grill with lighter fluid and it explodes, causing severe facial burns.
- Using gasoline to light a grill and the gas canister ignites.
- Having the gas line disconnected while lighting a grill, causing flames to shoot out.
- A child burns their foot after stepping on a lump of hot coal that was just poured out of a grill.
- A child runs into a hot grill without paying attention.
As you can see, it is critical that public grills and barbeques are properly maintained and that user instructions are readily available. When the proper care to keep grill users and those nearby safe is not taken, it is possible for serious burn injuries to occur.
#4 - Bicycle Accidents
There’s no other feeling like the warm summer air hitting your skin as you ride a bicycle on a sunny afternoon. However, it is important to be cautious when riding a bike, because not all road users pay the proper care and attention to avoid accidents.
Sadly, bicycle accident deaths peak during the summer months. According to 2020 data from the NSC, the highest number of bicycle accident fatalities occurred during August, with a total of 157 deaths.
However, bicycle accident fatalities tend to occur most often beginning in May and tapering off during October.
As you can see from the graph above, during 2020, there were a total of:
- 122 bicycle-related deaths in May,
- 128 in June,
- 142 in July,
- 157 in August,
- 124 in September, and
- 117 in October.
All of these fatality rates are higher than the annual average, which is 105 deaths per month.
What perhaps is most troubling about this data is that these tragic bicycle accidents all could have been prevented. When motorists and other road users are cautious and considerate of bicyclists, accidents are less likely to occur. These mishaps tend to take place when people are not paying attention or are not behaving with the sufficient care needed for the circumstances.
We’re Here to Help If You’ve Been Hurt in a Summertime Mishap
Getting hurt in a summer accident due to another’s reckless actions is unfair and unacceptable. If this has happened to you, you deserve justice. Our team has helped many others in similar situations and we will do what it takes to help serve justice on your behalf as well.
Don’t delay—reach out to our skilled team right away to discuss the details of your case. We are ready and willing to do what we can to help you now.
Call our firm today at (512) 400-3278 or fill out the online contact form to learn more about your legal options.
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