Tips on staying safe this holiday weekend from an Ohio Personal Injury Attorney.
The smell of burgers on the grill, the splashing of water in the pool, the boom of fireworks – that’s right, Fourth of July is here! The Fourth of July is a time for celebration and outdoor fun with friends and family. And with it comes the highest incidence of accidents than any other holiday weekend all year. Read on for some of the Fourth’s most common injury-causing accidents and how you can avoid them
Burn related injuries:
Between days spent around the grill, nights around the fire and your uncle who bought some fireworks across state lines and can’t wait to do an at-home show for the family, there are tons of opportunities to get burned, sometimes badly, during the 4th.
- Grilling: Unattended grills can cause grease fires, and over filled propane tanks can split or explode.
- Bonfires and fire pits: Open flames + drinking all day = what could go wrong? Don’t leave bon fires and fire pits unattended. Don’t put things that aren’t approved to burn in the fire or use things like gasoline to get the fire started. You like your eyebrows, right? And always supervise children around open fires.
- Fireworks: 37% of all fireworks-related injuries are burns. And yes, sparklers count as fireworks – they burn at temps of over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. When using any fireworks at home, make sure you have a designated place to put extinguished fireworks, like a bucket of water and supervise all children with fireworks at all times. Keep fireworks away from your face and out of your hands unless they are specifically meant to be held. Better yet, leave the fireworks to the pros and go to your city’s fireworks display. Enjoy your fingers for another year.
- Sun: This one won’t kill you immediately, but wear sunscreen when you’re outside. Nobody likes a sunburn.
Auto-related accidents:
The holiday weekend means more people on the road traveling to visit friends and family, heading to vacation or off to visit a destination for the day. More people on the road means more distracted drivers, more impaired drivers and more potential for aggressive drivers on the road. According to the National Safety Council, alcohol-impaired drivers caused 38% of deaths during the Fourth of July weekend.
- Drunk driving: Do we even have to say it? Don’t drink and drive. It’s 2026. Use ride share or appoint a designated driver.
- Watch out for pedestrians: When you’re around big events, watch out for pedestrians that might suddenly dart in front of your car to cross the street.
- Just focus on your driving: It can be hard when you have a car full of family and friends and you’re excited to be going somewhere, or your kids are in the backseat asking for fruit snacks and squabbling, but being distracted is never a good enough reason to cause a catastrophic car accident.
On the water:
Swimming and boating are a huge part of summer fun, but with it comes a lot of potential risk. Here are some common injuries to watch out for.
- Diving: Don’t dive into water unless the depth is clearly marked and you are 100% sure there are no obstructions under the surface. Diving into too shallow water can cause head and neck injuries that can be severe, including brain trauma and paralysis.
- Wear life jackets: Wear life jackets all the time, especially in the open water, even if you’re a strong swimmer. Kids should always wear life jackets and they should never be unattended around water.
- Don’t drink and drive (again): Driving a boat is the same as driving a car, and the consequences of operating a boat drunk can be just as grievous. If you are going to be drinking on the water, make sure you designate a non-drinker to drive the boat and get everyone home safely.
- Be careful around pool decks and on docks: Slip and falls can cause serious injuries all the time, but especially when around water. Pool decks and shores often have rough, uneven surfaces, too. Always exercise caution when walking on wet surfaces.
Slip and falls around the home:
Here are a few other things to be aware of when you’re celebrating this Fourth of July, whether you’re at your house or someone else’s.
- Loose railings and uneven steps: Patio pavers too! Be careful walking around in unfamiliar areas. If you notice something that needs addressing (like a loose railing) let the host know ASAP
- Slippery surfaces: Coolers leak, ice falls out of freezers and melts and so on. Slip and falls can go from a “Whoopsy!” to a serious injury quickly. Make sure you clean up any spills right away to prevent any accidents.
- Poor lighting: It’s dark, you may be walking around outside under just a few citronella candles or some café lights. Go slow and make sure you see where you are stepping.
- Decorations: Festive decorations in your path, including ones that are at head-level like banners and string lights, can cause people to trip.
- Floor mats and area rugs: Watch out for bunched up area rugs and wrinkles in floor mats when entering and exiting rooms.
- Walkway hazards: Make sure coolers, personal items like bags and shoes and pool equipment are moved out of walkways. Bagged trash should be put in trash cans as soon as possible.
If you are injured this Fourth of July weekend
If you’re injured, always seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow all after-care guidelines. If you think you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence (someone was driving drunk and caused an accident that hurt you, or you believe your propane tank was overfilled by the store and it caused injury), we can help! If you have any questions about how to handle a personal injury case resulting from an accident this Fourth of July, our attorneys are happy to help advise you.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Oliver Law Office or its attorneys. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction, and you should consult a qualified attorney in your area for advice regarding your specific situation.
Jami S. Oliver, CEO & Founder of Oliver Law Office in Dublin, Ohio has been practicing injury law in Ohio since 1993 and has been recognized by her peers as a leading professional in the field of personal injury law. Her firm also handles cases related to trucking crashes, wrongful death, complex employment litigation, drug recalls, injuries from defective products and other serious injury matters. For a free personal injury or wrongful death case evaluation click here.
