5 Florida New Year’s Resolutions For A Safer 2022!

Tips From Personal Injury Lawyers About How To Reduce Risk & Liability This Year If You Live In The Sunshine State

Happy almost New Year from The Florida Law Group! If you’ve already set New Year’s resolutions, you’re not alone. About 1 in 4 Americans set New Year’s resolutions for 2020. With the unexpected global pandemic and other events of the last two years, it stands to reason that less people may want to set any sort of goals for this year due to the fear that they may be unexpectedly derailed, but making New Year’s resolutions is a holiday tradition, and many people will still take part. Because accidents are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and because some New Year’s resolutions can be more dangerous than you may think, The Florida Law Group has put together some safety resolutions to go with your regular ones. Our Florida personal injury lawyers work with injured accident victims all the time, and we want to see you and your family avoid some of the most common accidents we see in January and beyond. To that end, here are 5 Florida New Year’s resolutions for a safer 2022!

1. Taking up running? Exercise caution.

   Offers.com surveyed resolution makers from every state at the end of 2019 to find out what the most common resolutions were, in the nation and by state. In Florida, the number one resolution was to save money, and the number two resolution was to exercise. Especially because of the great weather we enjoy in January, February, and March compared to the rest of the country, many Floridians are going to choose to start jogging or running outdoors, but this comes with inherent risks, seeing as Florida is the number one most dangerous place for pedestrians. Runners like to go out in the early morning or late evening to avoid traffic, but during our winter months, it’s darkest outside during these hours, which puts them at even greater risk of being struck by a car. If your 2022 New Year’s resolution involves walking, jogging, or running outside, follow a few key tips to increase your chances of safe exercise. Wear bright clothing; stay on the sidewalk, if possible, and go in the direction against traffic; let someone know what route you are taking and when to expect you back; don’t listen to music with two headphones in; and carry your phone on you.

2. Determined to travel outside the state more? Avoid distracted driving & prep your vehicle accordingly.

   Especially during the pandemic, it felt like Floridians were the “lucky” ones in terms of the fact that we live where most people want to vacation during a time when travel was shut down. If we really needed a change of scenery, we all were just a few hours away from a different beach town or theme park (when they opened). However, now that travel has opened up more, more people are wanting to make up for “lost” time and take more trips outside the state – but because international travel is still uncertain, we’re expecting that more people will be planning road trips to U.S. cities this year. Driving always carries a risk, and driving for extended periods of time increases that risk; driving in new places increases the risk even more. If you’ll be traveling outside of Florida this year, be careful! Get a phone mount or bluetooth system so that you don’t have to touch your phone much while navigating or driving. If you’re going to eat, stop to eat and don’t try to eat while driving. If you’re traveling up north during the winter months, ensure that you have all of the necessary supplies for cold or snowy weather (like snow chains or a windshield scraper).

3. Planning to eat out less? Keep your kitchen obstacle-free & make sure you have the right equipment.

   One popular New Year’s resolution (especially in an expensive state like Florida) is to try to save money by eating out less, and eat healthier by cooking your own meals. This is a great goal, but if you normally don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you’ll need to anticipate and avoid some common hazards in order to stay safe. Turn the handles of pots and pans inward to prevent them falling. Minimize the presence of kitchen rugs or mats unless they’re very secure and not going to slide. Never leave appliances on while eating. Keep kids out of the kitchen as much as possible to prevent distractions. Reduce clutter that could be a hazard. Use sharp knives carefully, as dull ones are more likely to slip and cut you.

4. Trying to spend more time with family? Fall-proof your home & your parents’ home.

   If you’re trying to be a better son or daughter to your older parents, or just want to spend more time away from the office and with your family this year, make sure that your home and your parents’ home is a safe space to enjoy this time together. Falls lead to 800,000 hospital visits annually; in Florida, where our snowbird and elderly population is higher, we have more seniors with us at the beginning of the new year who may be at risk of falling. Take some steps to fall-proof your home for them and for others: install mounted guards in the bathroom or stairs, remove clutter or slippery rugs from the entrance or exit, and brighten your home with more light so that obstacles that can’t be removed can be clearly seen.

5. Want to learn a new hobby? Make sure you don’t risk the safety of yourself and others around you because of your inexperience.

   It’s possible that one of your 2022 New Year’s resolutions is going to be to participate in a new hobby (a sport, a form of water recreation, a craft, etc.). This can be exciting, but like everything else we’ve mentioned on this list – risky. If you’re doing something that involves operating a vehicle, cutting anything, hitting anything, you could injure yourself or others around you if you are not properly trained. Don’t be overconfident in any scenario, and always wait until you have a solid grasp of the safety techniques of the particular hobby you’re pursuing before practicing it in an unsupervised environment.

The Florida Law Group wishes you a safe and happy New Year! If you are injured in an accident and need legal representation, call one of our 11 Florida offices and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We can explain your options and your rights, and you never pay us unless we recover compensation!