Fourth of July is an exciting time for both adults and children, as families gather to watch fireworks and celebrate the holiday with one another. In addition to happiness though, July 4th brings with it serious injuries, resulting from Oklahoma car accidents, defective or misused fireworks and DUI collisions. Like any holiday, many consumers celebrate …
Fourth of July is an exciting time for both adults and children, as families gather to watch fireworks and celebrate the holiday with one another. In addition to happiness though, July 4th brings with it serious injuries, resulting from Oklahoma car accidents, defective or misused fireworks and DUI collisions. Like any holiday, many consumers celebrate the Fourth of July by getting together with friends and grabbing a drink. Unfortunately, when individuals who have had too much to drink get behind the wheel, the risk of July 4th alcohol-related accidents significantly increases. Plus, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 65% of all firework-related injuries in 2011 occurred during the thirty days surrounding the Independence Day holiday. More than half of these injuries were the result of individuals misusing fireworks or accidents in which fireworks unexpectedly ignited.
Fireworks Accidents and Drunk Driving in Oklahoma City
Fireworks accidents typically result in injuries like burns to the hands and head, including the face, eyes and ears. According to the CPSC study, firecrackers, sparklers and aerial devices were associated with the most Fourth of July incidents. Watching fireworks on the Fourth of July is a national tradition enjoyed by Americans of all ages. Unfortunately, when consumers celebrate the holiday by setting off professional fireworks, the consequences can be deadly. Last year, the CPSC received reports of four individuals who were killed either by professional-grade or homemade fireworks, and an estimated 9,600 individuals were injured. In addition to fireworks accidents, hundreds of Americans die as a result of alcohol-related car accidents each year, and the Fourth of July has repeatedly ranked as the deadliest holiday of the year in the United States, even deadlier than New Year’s Day.
Contact an Oklahoma Personal Injury Attorney for Legal Help
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), statistics gathered over the past 25 years indicate that, on average, nearly 51% of all deadly traffic accidents on July 4th are related to alcohol. In 2008 alone, 491 people died in car accidents in the U.S. during the three-day Fourth of July weekend, 43% of which died as a result of alcohol-impaired driving. While DUI accidents may be one of the most common causes of July 4th fatalities in Oklahoma, fireworks accidents also account for a significant number of emergency room visits, injuries and deaths in the state. If you have suffered injuries caused by an Oklahoma DUI accident or fireworks accident, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, contact our experienced personal injury lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center today. Our skilled lawyers can help victims of serious injuries or the families of deceased victims protect their legal rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.