Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Labor Day is around the corner and the final official days of summer are usually greeted with barbecues, grilling, fireworks, and festivities. Homestead, Miami, and other city police forces, however, point out that Labor Day weekend traditionally mean more DUI accidents and can mean more injuries.
Here’s how to stay safer during this holiday weekend:
- Have a drive-sober plan: Even if you don’t plan on drinking, be prepared. Have someone you can call for a safe ride home, designate a driver, or have money on hand for a taxi or hotel. Have a few plans available so you’re not tempted to drink and drive.
- Consider leaving your car behind: One of the easiest ways to avoid drunk driving during the holiday weekend, as well as the traffic, is to leave your car at home. Take a shuttle, public transit, or a taxi to your event. Or, plan a Labor Day celebration at your home.
- Be a good host: If you are hosting a Labor Day party yourself, think of how your guests will get home safely. Consider designating a driver or of allowing guests to stay at your home overnight. Make sure people leave their keys with you when they come in so they can’t drive off after drinking. Be responsible about serving alcohol. Stop serving earlier in the evening and avoid serving to anyone who is inebriated.
- Consider the other risks of drinking: DUI collisions are not the only risk. When you drink to excess, you may also be at increased risk of slip and fall and trip and fall accidents, mugging, pedestrian accidents, and other types of injuries.
- Try to avoid late-night driving: Even if you drive sober, driving late at night after a long evening can still mean dangerous fatigued driving. In addition, others on the road may be drinking and driving.
- Secure your pool: If you are hosting a party or will be away for the weekend, make sure you secure your pool. Check the fence and gate and make sure the pool area is locked. Use an alarm to alert you if anyone trespasses. If you are hosting a party and allowing people to swim, keep the pool area well-supervised and never swim or boat after drinking.
- Grill safely: Keep your grill supervised and have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case. Have the grill set up well away from the house, and away from any overhanging trees.
- Plan on safe fireworks: If you are having fireworks at your home, check to make sure your municipality allows them. Even then, set them off in a clear area, away from homes, and by following all directions. Better yet, go see a public fireworks display, which is safer than trying to handle pyrotechnics yourself.
Have you been injured in a Labor Day car accident or at a holiday event in Homestead or anywhere else in South Florida? Contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a personal injury attorney. Our offices in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami serve the entire South Florida area and our phones will continue to be staffed over the long weekend, so you can reach a live person if you have been injured.