Summer Travel Safety

Many people, especially families, travel during the summer months. In recognition of National Safety Month, we are sharing important travel safety tips for those who are planning to be on the road or at the lake, beach, or pool.

It isn’t always possible to prevent accidents, and as a leading Birmingham personal injury law firm, we are here to help individuals who are injured due to the negligence of another party. Our team at Hare Wynn has more than 130 years of experience in litigating car accident and premises liability lawsuits.

Travel Safety: Road Trips

Following these tips can help keep you and your family safe while on the highway:

Make Sure Your Vehicle Is In Good Condition

You should plan at least a month in advance for any unexpected repairs. Check your vehicle’s:

• Coolant
• Oil
• Tire Pressure
• Spare Tire
• Brakes
• Belts, caps, hoses and filters
• Lights, signals, all wiper blades and windshield wiper fluid

Be Prepared

Become familiar with your route and check the weather before you leave. Check your cell phone range and be sure you can call for help from wherever you are traveling. In case of an emergency, pack a first aid kit, jumper cables and flares, a tool kit or cutting tool, and chains or something for traction.

Stay Safe and Alert

Driving while distracted or tired can lead to a deadly accident. You should always be aware of your surroundings. Safemotorist.com offers these travel safety guidelines:

• Get a good night’s sleep before your trip.
• Scan the road for hazards.
• Be on the lookout for tailgaters or aggressive drivers.
• Avoid pulling over on the side of the road unless it is an emergency, especially at night.
• Make sure you have plenty of gas between exits.
• Take breaks and stretch at well-lit rest stops to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.
• Try listening to music or rolling the window down if you feel tired.
• Share driving responsibilities to avoid fatigue.

Water Safety

Beaches and lakes are popular destinations for a summer vacation. It’s important to practice water safety.

The CDC reports that drowning is the fifth leading cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States. About one in five people who die of drowning are children 14 and younger. Someone can drown in the time it takes to post to Facebook.

According to safety expert Stephanie Shook with the American Red Cross, you should look for these warning signs:

• Silence – A child who is hyperventilating won’t be screaming for help.
• Head tilted back – When struggling to stay afloat, people instinctively tilt their head back to keep water out of their airway.
• Arms moving downward – A drowning person does this as they look for support that isn’t there.
• Floating face down – Be concerned if someone is horizontal and face-down for 30 seconds or more.
• Clinging to a wall or object – A child clinging to a wall, a flotation device, pool line, etc. may be too tired or unable to swim.
• Isolation – It’s a problem anytime a person, especially a child, is alone in the water out of reach of an adult.
• Bobbing or treading water – Even if someone is a strong swimmer, they could have drifted out too far, become tired, or gotten a cramp.

The American Red Cross offers these tips for water safety:

• Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
• Swim sober.
• Understand the dangers of hyperventilation and hypoxic blackout.
• Know how to call for help.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as ocean rip currents, water temperature, unclear or cloudy water, etc.
• Closely watch children or weak swimmers.
• Know the signs that someone is drowning and how to assist a drowning person.
• Make sure the entire family knows how to swim.

What to Do After an Accident

If you or a loved one are injured due to someone’s careless or wrongful actions while traveling, contact our team at Hare Wynn. We will evaluate your case and identify what parties should be held liable. We have recovered more than $2 Billion on behalf of clients. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling 800-568-5330.