By Zane T. Cagle | June 30, 2017 | Boating Accidents, Car Accidents, Drunk Driving
Who doesn’t love the Fourth of July? Safety reminders and a few minutes of planning can be the difference between injuries and a safe weekend. Due to alcohol, heavy traffic and fireworks, the holiday can be the most dangerous weekend of the summer. Anytime alcohol is combined with driving, boating or fireworks, the results can be bad.
We know the combination of drinking and driving is deadly. Obviously, a drunk person should not be doing the grilling or supervising the kids and fireworks, so use some common sense that is not always so common.
So, plan a little to keep things safe:
Millions of people will be on the highways this four-day weekend. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is participating in C.A.R.E (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the holiday weekend. All available officers will be patrolling enforcing speed limits, looking for intoxicated drivers and aggressive driving violations.
Last year, five people were killed over the same holiday and 565 people were injured in 1,370 traffic crashes. Last year, 121 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated.
If you are in St. Louis City, you know that there is a St Louis City Ordinance 65824 prohibiting possessing, storing, selling, exposing, exploding, setting off–essentially, No Fireworks in the limits of the City of St. Louis. If you are not in the city limits and you live in an area where fireworks are permitted, observe safety rules. A fact too not often not share is that–About 28% of the ER firework injuries seen are due to sparklers. This could be because many adults think the most harmless firework is a sparkler, but in reality, that is incorrect.
Every year people are seriously injured while operating charcoal and/or gas grills. While grilling is a part of the holiday, following some simple safety rules is smart.
If you are headed to the lake, be sure that you supervise any children swimming. Of course, be sure that you have a sober boat driver and practice water safety on this busy holiday. Fourth of July weekend may be the busiest weekend for Missouri and Illinois lakes and rivers. Again, be sure there are sober adults supervising children and children should wear life vests on lakes and rivers.
Boating accident numbers also generally increase over the Independence holiday weekend and frequently they involve alcohol.
As motor vehicle incidents increase over the holiday, it is crucial that you drive defensively and only drive sober. If you are involved in a motor vehicle crash and are injured, you will most likely need an attorney. At the very least, you should contact an expert car crash attorney before you contact the insurance companies.
Our attorneys are available seven days a week, including this busy holiday weekend.
The Cagle Law Firm serves accident and injury clients throughout St. Louis and the greater St. Louis metro area, including St. Louis Counties of Chesterfield, Wildwood, Eureka, Ladue, Olivette, Clayton, Kirkwood, Fenton, Affton, and Jefferson Counties of Arnold, High Ridge, Antonia, House Springs, and the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois communities. If you or your family needs legal assistance with your personal injury case, call The Cagle Law Firm at (314) 276-1681 or use our online contact form to request a free case review or get more information.
Request your FREE CASE REVIEW today by calling (314) 276-1681 or by sending a message through the site contact form. Your contact info stays private and is only used to reply to your inquiry.
Whether you need information about a new injury or existing injury, our lawyers answer your questions with no-risk and no followup marketing.
Fields marked with an * are required
Copyright © 2025 St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers | The Cagle Law Firm. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy
Get a free case review with St. Louis' best personal injury lawyers to help you win top compensation