23 May

5 Important Safety Tips For Floridians To Follow This Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend florida

Memorial Day is the most dangerous holiday for drivers, even more than New Year’s Eve, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is also one of the most dangerous holidays for boaters. Particularly in Florida, where millions of tourists are expected to spend the weekend (AAA is prediction the highest tourism rates since before the COVID-19 pandemic and many places in Florida, including Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Miami, are seeing record booking numbers), the risk of being seriously hurt in an auto or boating accident is high. The best way to keep yourself and your family safe this weekend is to be prepared and to be vigilant! Here are a few things to keep in mind and 5 important safety tips for Floridians to follow this Memorial Day weekend…

Why Is Memorial Day So Dangerous?

For Drivers In Florida….

Millions of people will be visiting and exiting Florida on Memorial Day weekend, and while many of those will be flying, hundreds of thousands of people will be traveling in and out of Florida by road. Memorial Day is the most dangerous for drivers for a number of reasons, including:

More traffic.

More people on the road means a high potential for accidents. Traffic tends to test people’s patience and attention spans, and can lead to a high number of rear-end and distracted/drowsy driving crashes.

Drunk/impaired driving.

Memorial Day is nearly synonymous with alcohol and the beach; when people are out in the sun, they can become dehydrated and more intoxicated. There’s never an excuse to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but because Florida residents and tourists alike are focused on having fun and celebrating the holiday, drunk driving is more likely to occur htis weekend.

Drowsy driving.

Traveling long distances, being out in the sun, and/or drinking, can cause people to tire quickly. Falling asleep behind the wheel (especially for tourists) causes many Memorial Day accidents every year.

Road rage.

Florida already leads the nation in road rage incidents, and with all of the traffic, high tensions around politics and gas prices, and stress of holiday travel, road rage could cause many accidents.

For Boaters In Florida…

Florida surpassed 1 million registered boaters between 2020 and 2021, making it the state with the most registered boaters in the U.S. Not every one of those boaters will be out on the water this weekend, but many will, and when you combine that with the number of tourists visiting and renting boats, the likelihood of boating accidents occurring on Memorial Day increases. Boating accidents happen more during Memorial Day weekend for a number of reasons, but some of the most common are:

More traffic on the water.

There’s a lot of room in the ocean, but when so many tourists and residents flock to the same beaches to participate in recreational water activities like swimming, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, and etc., people are at a greater risk for being injured.

Drunk driving.

Boating and drinking don’t tend to mix well when it comes to safety, particularly under the hot Florida sun. When boat drivers drink, they put themselves, their passengers, and other swimmers/boaters in the water at risk. Florida law does allow boat drivers to drink on the boat, unlike drivers in a car, but boaters can’t have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of more than .08, which is the same limit as car drivers. Sometimes, because of the heat, boat drivers may overestimate the amount of alcohol that they can have. Being under the influence of alcohol can slow down reaction times and cause poor decision making.

Distracted driving.

Inattention was either completely or partially responsible for 227 boating accidents in 2021 (45% of incidents). Conditions on the water can change quickly, and especially on Memorial Day weekend, boaters who aren’t aware of other people/vessels on the water, of sand and rock bars, and of the tides could quickly get into an accident.

Lack of life jackets.

Of the amount of people who died in Florida in a boating accident in 2021, 55% died by drowning, and 73% of them were not wearing a life jacket. On Memorial Day weekend, most people are more focused on having enough food on board the boat than having enough life jackets on board, but the latter is ultimately the most important.

Lack of experience.

Operator inexperience caused 92 boating accidents in 2021. During the pandemic, the water vehicle industry reported a 35% increase in first-time boat ownership. Thousands of inexperienced boaters will be out on the water this Memorial Day weekend, and a lack of experience can prove dangerous when it comes to navigation, manuevering, and following safety protocols/Florida boating laws.

5 Safety Tips For Floridians To Follow This Memorial Day Weekend

Don’t Drink & Operate A Motor Vehicle/Boat.

In 2020, 41% of Memorial Day fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver, and 23% of Florida’s fatal boating incidents were at least partially caused by alcohol or drugs. Operating a vehicle is a big responsibility. If you drink, you could seriously injure yourself, your passengers, and those around you; save the drinking for when you are at home, or arrange alternate transportation.
Plan Ahead Before Heading Out.

Planning ahead can save your life and the lives of others. If you’re boating, bring enough life jackets for every single person on the boat. Bring a first aid kit, and enough water for everyone to stay hydrated. Ensure your boat is property maintained and equipped. Check the weather in advance, and research the area you are planning to go to; consider filing a “float plan” so people who are not on the boat are aware of what your itinerary is. If you’re driving, make sure your car is properly maintained (check the oil, put air in the tires, etc.) and not overloaded. Stop frequently so you can stretch, grab coffee, or fill up with gas.
Everyone Should Wear Seat Belts/Life Jackets.

Seat belts and life jackets are life-saving devices. Everyone in the car or on the boat should be wearing them, at all times, because an accident can occur at any time.
If You’re At The Beach, Supervise Kids.

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 – 5. With so many young families headed to Florida’s beaches, children are at an even greater risk for drowning this Memorial Day weekend. Don’t think that flotation devices alone will keep your kids safe in the water; a watchful adult should be keeping a close eye on kids at all times while at the beach or on a boat.
Keep Distractions To A Minimum.

Distractions are a real danger this Memorial Day weekend. Whether you are driving or boating, pay attention to what you are doing. Don’t be on your phone or engaged in conversation with others and take your eyes off of the task ahead of you; conditions on the road or in the water can change in an instant, and you need to be able to react. Make sure you and everyone you are with has the best chances of reaching your destination safely.

If You’re Injured, Remember These 3 Must-Dos:

Even if you follow all of these safety tips and are extremely cautious, you can’t control the behavior or negligent actions of other drivers, and you can’t predict what they will do. Unfortunately, you or someone you love may be seriously hurt due to someone else’s carelessness. If you’re injured in an auto accident or a boating accident this Memorial Day weekend, the steps you take immediately following your accident could affect the extent of your suffering, both physically and financially. Here are 3 must-dos to remember if you are injured:

1) Call the police.

Even if the driver who caused the accident asks you not to involve the authorities, and even if you think your injuries were minor, you need to contact the police. They can take pictures of the scene, document the accident, and make an official report that can provide evidence later on if needed.

2) Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you need to.

Sometimes, adrenaline can prevent you from feeling the full extent of your injuries. Some injuries also take days or even weeks to present themselves. If you were involved in a car or boating accident, it’s important to undergo a full medical examination as soon as you can, preferably right after leaving the scene of the accident or the next day.

3) Call an attorney before speaking with your insurance company.

Insurance companies are supposed to cover the costs you incur in an accident, but they are experts at paying out as little as possible to accident victims in order to preserve their bottom line. You’ll need to notify your insurance company about the accident, but having legal representation can help ensure that you don’t say anything that could hurt your chances of recovering compensation later on.

The Florida Law Group Is Standing By To Help.

The National Safety Council estimates that as many as 450 people may die on U.S. roads this Memorial Day weekend, a truly tragic forecast that we here at The Florida Law Group hope will not prove to be accurate (but that is consistent with numbers seen in previous years, unfortunately). It’s our sincere wish for everyone to stay safe on the waters and on the roads this holiday, which is why we wrote this blog post! However, because we know that there is a high likelihood people in Florida will be injured, we’re standing by ready to help the victims. If you or someone you know is injured in a Memorial Day weekend accident, contact any one of our 11 office locations in the state (Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando, and more). We offer free consultations so accident victims can ask questions, learn more about how much their injuries are worth (in terms of medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and lost wages values), and explore their legal options. Since 1984, our award-winning law firm has recovered over $1 billion for wrongfully injured plaintiffs! Call now to schedule your free consultation.