Every year, the National Safety Council (NSC) makes estimates for how deadly holidays and holiday weekends will be. This year, the data paints a grim picture for the 4th of July weekend; the NSC is estimating that 466 people will be killed and more than 53,000 will be injured over the course of the three-day weekend. This is a national estimate that includes Colorado.
That fatality estimate is the highest in nearly a decade and lines up with the 4th of July’s reputation as the most dangerous holiday of the year.
What Makes The 4th Of July So Deadly?
While fireworks, boats and other recreation-related things contribute to many of the injuries and fatalities during the weekend, cars are still the predominant source of harm during this holiday. Why is this?
When you think about what people are doing over the course of the weekend, it, unfortunately, makes a lot of sense:
- More than 35 million people will be driving or riding in cars during the 4th of July weekend, according to AAA. This means that there are many more people on the roads than usual.
- People are often driving on unfamiliar roads while on vacation, distracted by family members in the car, or put into other driving situations that are less than ideal and cause them to lose focus.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) the extreme alcohol consumption over the 4th of July weekend plays a significant role; more than 40 percent of fatal accidents during the 4th of July weekend involve alcohol.
Be Safe, And Take Action If You’re Hurt
Keep on your guard this weekend, and do what you can to stay safe. If you end up getting hurt in due to a reckless driver, an alcohol-related crash, or any other cause that wasn’t your fault, it’s likely that you can recover compensation.
Call Flesch & Beck Law, and we can help you understand how an injury claim can help you pay for your medical bills, ongoing care costs, and other damages. We work with clients in the Denver area and across the state.
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