7 Common Summertime Accidents: What to Know About Protecting Yourself and Your Family

It’s hard to believe, but summer is already just around the corner. Summer is a time when residents and visitors alike flock to Florida’s beach towns and amusement parks, soaking up the sun and all that our state has to offer. Unfortunately, this means that accidents are a very real concern during the summer months as well, and many residents and visitors will find themselves in need of an experienced Florida accident lawyer who can help them seek just compensation.

If you find yourself dealing with the consequences of an accident in Florida this summer, it will be important for you to know how to protect yourself and your family. Accident-related injuries can quickly become very expensive, and while compensation may be available to you, it will be up to you to assert your legal rights effectively. With this in mind, keep reading to learn about some of the most common summertime accidents that can justify claims for financial compensation, as well as what it takes to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

All-Too-Common Accidents During Summer in Florida

When can you seek financial compensation after an accident in Florida? Here are seven all-too-common summertime accidents that will frequently entitle victims and their families to just compensation:

1. Distracted Driving Accidents

While distracted driving is an issue year-round, it is a particular concern during the summer months. This is a time when many people are trying to find their way to unfamiliar destinations, connect with friends and loved ones about their plans, and take in their new surroundings.

As the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) explains, distractions can take many other forms as well:

“While you may not think you are a distracted driver because you do not engage in more well-known distractions such as texting, you may be engaging in other distractions that put you, your passengers and others on the roadway at risk. This might include, but is not limited to, listening to loud music, eating, engaging with passengers or adjusting your vehicle’s entertainment or navigation system.”

All of these distractions can take drivers’ eyes and minds off the task at hand, and many of them can take drivers’ hands off the wheel. This is why the FLHSMV refers to distracted driving as a “triple threat.” It is also why there are far too many distracted driving accidents in Florida each summer.

2. Drunk Driving Accidents

Along with distracted driving, drunk driving is a major concern during the summer months in Florida as well. According to the Florida Impaired Driving Coalition, May and June are particularly dangerous months for drunk driving accidents in the Sunshine State.

Here, too, there are several factors at play. Not only are there more people on Florida’s roads during the summer months, but more people are likely to be out drinking as well. While Friday and Saturday nights remain among the most dangerous times to drive, with people visiting Florida’s beaches and amusement parks on summer vacation, drunk driving accidents can—and do—happen at any time.

3. Electric Scooter and E-Bike Accidents

Electric scooters and e-bikes have become popular modes of transportation in many areas. Renting one to get across town is relatively inexpensive, and riding an electric scooter or e-bike is much quicker than walking to your destination.

But riding an electric scooter or e-bike can also be dangerous. Many first-time riders are unfamiliar with how they work, and, as a result, they can suddenly find themselves out of control. Riding in traffic can be dangerous as well, as drivers often don’t see riders (or try to avoid hitting them) until it is too late.

4. Swimming Pool Accidents

While swimming is a year-round activity in much of Florida, most swimming pools see the most activity during the summer months. As pools get more use—and become more crowded—the risk of serious and fatal swimming pool accidents increases significantly.

From slippery pool decks to faulty pool equipment, and from overcrowded pools to pool toys obscuring swimmers below the water’s surface, numerous hazards can put swimmers at risk. Inadequate supervision is a common issue as well. In many cases, swimmers suffer unnecessary consequences simply because no one notices that they need help.

5. Boating Accidents

Boating is another year-round activity that, while fun, can also be extremely dangerous. To be clear, there is no reason for a day on the water to be anything other than safe and relaxing. If boaters check the forecast, plan ahead, and observe the rules of the water, everyone should be able to make it home safely.

But, far too often, this does not happen. From speeding to boating under the influence, there are a handful of factors that contribute to numerous boating accidents in Florida’s inland and coastal waters each year. When negligent and reckless boaters cause accidents, they deserve to be held fully accountable.

6. Watersport Accidents

Along with boating accidents, watersport accidents are common during the summer months as well. This includes accidents involving personal watercraft (PWCs), wakeboarding, water skiing, tubing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and parasailing. Diving accidents are also common, and with more divers coming to Florida’s coasts each summer, we are seeing more of these accidents than we have in the past.

7. Accidents Involving Dangerous Premises

Summer is also a time when we typically see more accidents involving dangerous premises. Common premises-related accidents include slips, trips, falls, and accidents due to inadequate lighting or security. Owners of hotels, motels, vacation rentals, bars, restaurants, amusement parks, and other types of commercial properties can all be held liable for these accidents, and seeking just compensation will involve filing an insurance claim in most cases.

5 Important Facts About Protecting Yourself and Your Family

With these risks in mind, what do you need to know to protect yourself and your family? Here are five important facts to know after a summertime accident in Florida:

• Getting Medical Care Should Be Your Top Priority – Even if it means disrupting your summer vacation plans, getting the medical care you or your loved one needs should be your top priority.
• You Need to Be Proactive About Filing a Claim – Once you have seen a doctor, your next priority should be hiring a Florida accident lawyer to assess your rights and help you file a claim.
• Your Photos or Videos Could Be Key Evidence of Liability – If you have photos or videos from before or after the accident, you should keep these to share with your Florida accident lawyer.
• It Is Important to Take Detailed Notes – Even if you have photos or videos, you should spend 10 to 15 minutes taking detailed notes while the accident is still fresh in your mind.
• It Is Important to Gather Any Available Forensic Evidence Before it Disappears – If there is additional evidence available at the accident scene (or elsewhere), your lawyer will need to gather it quickly before it disappears.

5 Important Facts About Filing an Accident Claim in Florida

If you have grounds to seek financial compensation for your (or your family member’s) accident, there are some additional facts you need to know as well. Here are five important facts about filing an accident claim in Florida:

• You Will Most Likely Be Dealing with the Insurance Companies – From car and e-bike accidents to accidents involving swimming pools and property hazards, seeking just compensation typically means dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
• The Insurance Companies Will Most Likely Try to Blame You or Your Family Member – When dealing with the insurance companies, you can expect them to try to blame you or your loved one for what happened, because this can have a drastic impact on the value of your claim.
• Accident Victims Are Entitled to Just Compensation for Their Financial and Non-Financial Losses – If you have an accident claim in Florida, you are entitled to just compensation for all of your (or your loved one’s) present and future financial and non-financial losses.
• You Only Get One Opportunity to Settle Your Claim – When you are dealing with the insurance companies, you only get one opportunity to settle your claim. If you settle for too little, you can’t go back in the future and ask for more.
• You Can Hire an Experienced Florida Accident Lawyer at No Out-of-Pocket Cost – To make sure you don’t settle your claim too soon, you can hire an experienced Florida accident lawyer to represent you at no out-of-pocket cost. Our lawyers handle accident claims statewide.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a Florida Accident Lawyer at Searcy Denney

Do you need help protecting your legal rights after an accident in Florida? If so, we can help. We have decades of experience representing Florida residents, visitors, and their families. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Florida accident lawyer at Searcy Denney, please call 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.