Fathers’ Day is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities with your favorite father figures. Around the country, people will be drinking beer, visiting family, and boating, biking, and off-roading together.
Those are all fun activities when everyone is being safe. The problem is that the spirit of celebration can cause people to forget precautions. Fathers’ Day is one of the five most dangerous holidays in the US. It seems that warm weather, outdoor activities, and beer are a dangerous combination. Car and pedestrian accidents increase dramatically on holiday weekends like Fathers’ Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July.
You don’t need to accept that celebrating dads is dangerous, of course. No matter what you’re planning for your dad, you can keep things safe by taking a few precautions. Here’s how to avoid three of the most common types of Fathers’ Day accidents and celebrate safely this summer.
Drunk Driving Accidents
In some ways, drunk driving accidents are easy to avoid. It’s as simple as not allowing anyone to drive when they’re intoxicated. The problem is that drunk people lose their ability to judge how much they’ve had and how impaired they really are.
That’s why you need to be proactive to avoid these accidents. Don’t depend on your judgment after a few beers. Instead, have a plan that will let everyone enjoy themselves without putting unsafe people behind the wheel.
Assign a designated driver. Having someone on hand who promises to remain sober and drive people around is the simplest way to stay safe. The DD can be responsible for getting people home at the end of the night and keeping people from driving themselves. A designated driver can even take people’s keys if necessary to keep them safe.
Follow BAC guidelines. If you don’t have a designated driver, you need to be careful before letting anyone drive. The federal government has identified a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% as the threshold for safe driving, but lower is better. You’ll need to wait several hours after your last drink before you’re safe to drive. You can use a BAC calculator to determine how long it will be until you’re safe to get behind a wheel.
When in doubt, don’t drive. People react to alcohol differently. If you’re not completely confident that you’re sober, then don’t drive, and don’t let other people drive in the same conditions. It’s better to stay somewhere overnight than risk a tragic accident.
Biking and Off-Roading Crashes
Going biking or off-roading with your dad is fun, but the holiday shouldn’t make you careless. Follow standard safety guidelines to make sure you’re not putting yourself or others at risk.
Wear a helmet. A helmet is the easiest way to protect yourself when you’re on a recreational vehicle. They can help you avoid permanent brain injuries or death. Make sure your helmet fits you well, and buy a new helmet if you get in an accident.
Avoid crowded trails and roads. Busy roads and paths are more likely to expose you to dangerous, reckless drivers. You can get hit by other cyclists or be forced to swerve to avoid careless pedestrians. It’s safer to stay on less-trafficked routes where that’s not a problem.
Let people know where you’re going. Whenever you go out on a ride, make sure someone else knows where you are. Tell them when you expect to get back, too. That way, if you do get in an accident, people know if something went wrong and where to look for you.
Choose safe rentals. If you choose to borrow your next ride, make sure you get it from a trustworthy location. Some rental stores are negligent in caring for their equipment, which could cause it to fail and hurt you. Always check your bike or four-wheeler and make sure it’s in good condition before heading out.
Pedestrian Accidents
On holiday weekends, even people who don’t get behind the wheel can be in danger. On Fathers’ Day, 2019, a man who was simply crossing the street in Orange County was hit and killed by a car. That’s all too common.
On dangerous dates, you can keep yourself safe from other people’s reckless behavior by taking a few pedestrian precautions.
Stay away from the street. Drunk drivers are prone to swerving onto the sidewalk. The easiest way to avoid them is to stay away from roads and unprotected sidewalks. Instead, hang out in your back yard, in the center of parks, and generally away from the road. Holiday weekends are a great time to stay at home and avoid walking around.
Expect poor drivers. If you do have to walk around, keep an eye out for dangerous drivers. Just because you’re being careful doesn’t prevent other people from driving drunk. Pay extra attention to your surroundings before crossing roads, and don’t expect cars to follow traffic laws. It’s better to be overly cautious than it is to get hurt by neglectful road users.
Avoid walking after dark. The majority of all pedestrian accidents take place after dark. Even around safe roads, it’s still best to stick to walking around during daylight. Drivers are more likely to hit you if they can’t see you, after all. If you do walk around after dark, wear light-colored clothing and don’t expect people to slow down for you.
Celebrate Safely All Summer Long
Fathers’ Day is just one summer holiday of many. They all carry similar risks. No matter what you want to enjoy this summer, make sure you do it safely. There’s nothing more tragic than a party that leads to permanent injuries or even death.
If you do get hurt this Fathers’ Day, know that you’re not alone. If you were injured because someone else behaved recklessly or negligently, you may be able to fight back. Reach out to an experienced car accident attorney to discuss your options. If you need insurance money and damages to get back to normal, the right lawyer can help. Reach out today to get started.
