By Jack H. Olender, Esq. T he Fourth of July weekend is supposed to be a day of celebration and relaxation but for thousands of Americans each year it is a day of illness and accidents caused by ignorance or carelessness. Besides causing misery, summer mishaps frequently lead to lawsuits. In my thirty years as a trial lawyer, I have represented a number of clients whose Fourth of July weekend turned into a nightmare. Although there is no good time to get sick or injured, holidays such as July 4th are the absolute worst time because hospitals and clinics are frequently understaffed.
Fewer staff means greater risk of malpractice.
As the temperature climbs, so do reported drownings or near drownings in the Washington area. Last year nearly 4,000 American children drowned and another 8,000 to 12,000 suffered permanent neurological damage. Do not permit adults to swim alone. Never leave a child to supervise another child. Never assume someone else is watching your children.