Avoiding Injury During Fourth Of July Celebrations In Arizona

If you believe 250 is a number worth celebrating, you probably have special plans for the Fourth of July this year. That might be grilling, a day by the pool, or watching a fireworks display. But like during any other holiday, there is an elevated risk of injury while celebrating Independence Day. If you do suffer an injury that was someone else’s fault, you may need to file a claim against them to hold them liable for your damages. Coming to an agreement may be possible between friends for minor injuries. But for any other situation, negotiation is likely to be tense, and the other party may have legal representation provided by their insurance policy. If you want to be fully and fairly compensated, you should retain your own legal counsel to represent your interests in the matter. Our firm makes getting started easy with free consultations by phone and competitive contingency rates, so we don’t get paid until you do. Schedule your free consultation today by calling 480-833-8000. 

Possible Injuries From July 4th Festivities

In Arizona, the Fourth of July is almost guaranteed to be a hot and sunny day. While injuries from things like drunk driving will be common among holidays throughout the year, there are certain injuries that are more likely to occur during summer weather, such as:

• Heat-related injury: Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can quickly become serious medical conditions if not addressed promptly. If you’re hosting this Fourth of July, make sure to provide plenty of shade and cool beverages, and be prepared to let your guests come inside to seek air conditioning, if necessary. 
• Sunburn: Sunburn can occur quickly, especially when there are hardly any clouds to cover the sun. Many people still burn while wearing sunscreen because they didn’t reapply frequently enough, got in the water, or didn’t choose a high enough SPF for the Arizona sun. 
• Burns: Burns don’t just come from the sun- they come from hot surfaces like grills, unshaded pool decks, and more. There is even more risk of incurring these types of injuries when alcohol is involved. 
• Pool injuries: Water safety is important everywhere, but especially in a desert climate like Arizona’s. Leaving small children alone near a pool for just a few moments can result in tragedy. Be sure to have a sober adult ready to observe your pool if you plan on letting your guests swim this Fourth of July. 
• Slip and fall: There are so many opportunities to have a slip and fall accident at a July 4th BBQ. Someone could trip over the dog carrying food to the table, slip on a wet pool deck, trip on a loose tile, etc. Serious incidents may eventually evolve into personal injury claims.
• Pet bites: Our pets are often just as much part of the festivities as children, but they can become overwhelmed in strange situations with new people. If a guest is bitten at a July 4th party, Arizona’s strict liability laws for dog bites will apply. 

Adding Up Your Damages

Far too many accident victims assume that their medical expenses are the only damage they can recover in a personal injury claim. They will end up with a massively undervalued injury award if they proceed under that assumption. Medical expenses should be included, but serious injuries could require medical care for several years or even for the rest of the claimant’s life. This should be factored into a demand for damages, as well as whether the claimant is temporarily or permanently disabled or disfigured by the accident. These types of serious injuries typically require extended rest, and depending on the claimant’s job, they may need to take leave from work during their recovery. Lost wages should be included in the demand regardless of whether the claimant had PTO accrued to use during that time. A claimant with a physically demanding job may face career limitations due to permanent injuries, or even need to change fields entirely, which is another factor to be considered. Including these damages is also important because they can factor into how much a claimant is awarded for pain and suffering. 

There are several different types of non-economic damages an injury claimant can request, but the most common of them is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can encompass many of those more specialized types of damages. But you might not realize all of the non-economic costs you may suffer after an accident until you’ve experienced them for yourself. That time spent traveling and attending medical appointments, those nights not sleeping because of pain from injuries, and the side effects from prescribed medications are just a few of the inconveniences that an accident victim may need to endure. A plaintiff should be sure to request a fair amount when calculating their pain and suffering damages. They are usually calculated by summing up the rest of the claimant’s damages and plugging in a multiplying factor. The multiplying factor, usually between 1 and 5, is based on how severe the accident and the claimant’s injuries were. So if the claimant undervalues the rest of any of their damages, they will inevitably undervalue the pain and suffering component of their claim. Always speak to a personal injury attorney about the value of your case before sending a demand letter to the other side’s legal representative. 

When To Bring a Claim

If you’re injured at a Fourth of July party, you likely won’t be bringing an injury claim on July 5th or 6th. It takes time to see a medical professional, have your injuries reviewed, proceed with treatment, and assess your long-term prognosis. If you don’t take care of these steps first, it will be difficult to calculate and pursue your claim’s full value. It also gives the other side ammunition to say that your failure to attend to these tasks contributed to your injuries. So while you don’t want to file your claim before you know the full extent of your damages, you also don’t want to wait too long to file it, or the court will be forced to dismiss the case. Generally, the time limit, or statute of limitations to file an injury claim in Arizona is 2 years from the date of the accident. But special factors, like the defendant being a government entity, or the victim being a minor, can change the statute of limitations. This is an issue that should be discussed with a qualified injury attorney. 

Suffered An Injury This Independence Day? Start Learning About Your Legal Options As Soon As Possible. 

No one wants to think about the risk of injury while celebrating a holiday like the Fourth of July. But DUI and traffic accident rates increase on holidays, and there are special risks associated with outdoor festivities with friends, family, and neighbors. If you do find yourself in this type of unfortunate situation, you should consider legal representation for your potential injury claim. Otherwise, you may risk losing out on an award that fully and fully compensates you for what you went through. Want to have your claim assessed by an experienced Arizona personal injury lawyer? Schedule your free consultation with our firm today by calling 480-833-8000.