New Year’s Eve is a joyous time. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when we see a spike in holiday-related accidents, personal injuries, and even fatalities. According to the National Safety Council forecast, 427 traffic-related fatalities were likely to occur during the 2022 New Year’s Day Holiday period.
However, traffic-related accidents aren’t solely to blame for these incidents. Haffner Law, home to skilled and experienced personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles, offers the following tips to ensure a safe New Year’s holiday celebration for you and your loved ones.
Don’t Drink and Drive
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers made 263 DUI (drinking under the influence) arrests on New Year’s Eve, an 8% increase from 2021. There were also 29 reported deaths over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Help reduce these numbers by assigning someone to stay sober and safely drive everyone home. Or, you can pitch in to hire a designated driver.
Exercise Caution When Using Fireworks
Prevent injuries by letting professionals handle the fireworks. Always have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water nearby in case of an emergency. Most importantly, don’t allow kids and pets to get too near the fireworks display.
Also, if you do plan on buying fireworks, make sure only to purchase legal fireworks that have been screened and tested for safety purposes. The State of California only allows the use of non-aerial and non-explosive fireworks, including:
- Ground and handheld sparkling devices
- Wheel and Ground Spinners
- Cylindrical and cone fountains
- Illuminating torches
If you’re not sure which fireworks are legal, you can refer to the approved list issued by the State Fire Marshall’s office.
Say No to Celebratory Gunfire
In California, celebratory gunfire or shooting firearms in the air as an act of celebration is illegal. Under section 246.3 of the California Penal Code, reckless shooting of guns can lead to prison time. An individual can be charged for gross negligence if they fall under any of the following categories:
- They acted in a reckless manner that could have resulted in a high risk of fatality or bodily injury
- They knew that their actions could create suck risks
- The use of firearms could have resulted in the injury or death of an individual
- The defendant did not act as a result of self-defense.
Note that a person who was unaware that the firearm was loaded prior to discharging it is exempted from this law.
Have You Been Injured? Get Help from L.A.’s Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers
Accidents can happen on New Year’s Eve regardless of whether safety precautions were followed or not. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone’s reckless behavior, the personal injury lawyers at Haffner Law will help make things right.
Our seasoned legal team knows how to handle all types of personal injury cases in Los Angeles, from firework injuries to intoxicated driving accidents. We’ll help you gather the necessary evidence, track down witnesses, and more.
Get the legal support you need for your case. Reach out to Haffner Law today at 213-514-5681 for a free case review.
