We expect a busy summer in Tennessee due to the loosening of restrictions. People from all over the country will be back to enjoy time in the Smokies, or to vacation in our cities. Summer is the perfect time for family barbeques and day trips to a lake or river, or to spend some time with friends they have not seen in months.

Summertime is also a time for accidents. Experienced Sevierville personal injury attorneys fight for anyone who is injured due to any type of summertime accident, demanding compensation for all your medical bills which may include hospital surgeries, doctor visits, time with specialists, physical and other types of therapy, medical device bills, and prescription costs.

If you’re injured in a car crash or other accident due to the fault of another, you’re also entitled to damages for your lost income, the cost to fix or replace your car, and your physical pain and suffering. If you suffer any scarring or disfigurement due to burns, amputation, or other reasons, you’re entitled to damages for those injuries too.

Car accidents increase in warmer weather

While car and truck accidents may occur any time of year, the number of crashes increases in the warmer weather, according to a 2017 report by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. There are a few factors that cause summertime car crashes to occur:

• Driver distraction. With the warm weather, it’s tempting for many teenagers and other drivers to want to go somewhere – anywhere. With school letting out, there are more young drivers on the road. Teens often aren’t as responsible as adults. They tend to text and drive more and use their cellphones more. Drivers of any age who don’t have their mind on traffic, or both hands on the steering wheel, or their eyes on the road, pose a danger to their passengers, other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycle riders.
• Speeding and other traffic violations. In the summer, drivers, especially young drivers, are more prone to drive above the speed limit and run through red lights. Summertime isn’t a time to stop obeying the traffic rules and proceeding with caution.
• The glare from the sun. The summertime sun shines bright which can make seeing more difficult. Drivers who don’t have sunglasses or use their visors can easily cause a crash.
• Many construction crews can’t work during the cold weather even when there isn’t snow and ice on the ground. Drive around Tennessee in the summertime and you’re bound to see maintenance crews on the road and landscaping crews. Construction companies and work crews need to properly warn drivers about construction, direct traffic away from the worksite, and take other safety measures.

Injuries due to the heat

Heat-related illnesses are, for obvious reasons, more common in the summer months. The heat can cause people to become dehydrated. Some people may suffer heatstroke or heat exhaustion especially if they spend a lot of time working outdoors. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you should drink plenty of water, wear a hat, use the proper type of sunscreen, and take rests in the cool shade or air-conditioning when you can. If you become lightheaded, dizzy, or just tired, you shouldn’t drive until you’re cool and rested – and you should seek medical attention if your symptoms progressively get worse.

Swimming and water accidents

Many accidents happen around swimming pools. Property owners who don’t take steps to secure their pool can be held liable for any drownings or injuries that occur. The property should be secured with fences or other ways to prevent children from using the pools. Owners who don’t secure their pool can be held liable on a theory of “attractive nuisance” if a neighborhood child uses the pool, even if it’s without the owner’s permission, and the child drowns or becomes injured.

Boating accidents are also common in the summer. Boat operators can be held liable if the boat strikes another boat or strikes a swimmer or bystander. Boat owners may be liable if someone falls overboard, slips and falls on the boat, or suffers harm for other reasons. Jet-ski operators and other pleasure watercraft owners may also be liable for any injuries they cause.

Dog bite injuries

Summertime is a nice time to visit neighbors and friends, including dog owners. Many people walk their dogs more often, and take their dogs with them wherever they go.

Dogs do pose a danger. Children often do not realize how dangerous dogs can be. Even adults are often bitten by dogs of all breeds and sizes. Dog bites can cause scarring which requires plastic surgery. The victims might be infected with all sorts of diseases.

In Tennessee, dog owners are strictly liable for any damages a person suffers while the person is “in a public place or lawfully in or on the private property of another.” Some exceptions, such as if the injured person were trespassing “upon the private, nonresidential property of the dog’s owner” when bitten by the dog, do apply.

Other types of summertime accidents and injuries

Burn injuries are also common in the warmer months, due to outdoor grilling, barbecues, fireworks, or campfires. Property owners need to make sure the proper precautions are taken – especially if children are nearby. If the burns are due to a defective grill or other product, the product manufacturer can be held liable for any injuries that occur.

At Delius & McKenzie, PLLC, our Sevierville personal injury lawyers fight for accident victims year-round. We understand why accidents happen and who is responsible. We file negligence claims and product liability claims. Our lawyers have the experience and resources to help you get justice. For help with any summertime accident, call (865) 428-8780 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We represent victims in Sevierville, Seymour, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding Tennessee areas.