Enjoy the Summer But Be Careful

Summer. We wait all year for it. No homework for the kids, maybe a hiatus for their plethora of activities. Summer Fridays at the office (or … not at the office as the case may be). Cookouts. The beach (ugh… the Parkway). The pool. Bike rides, pedal, and motor. Amusement parks. Fireworks. Carnivals.

But we don’t always consider the darker side of summer – the dangers that sometimes accompany these sweet summer pleasures. According to SafeHome.org, while pool-related injuries sent 38,000 children to the emergency room last summer, trampoline injuries were responsible for nearly thrice that. In that same period, over 200,000 adults went to the hospital for bike-related injuries.
 
Older New Jerseyans may recall Action Park … which was the subject of a 2020 documentary entitled Class Action Park. The documentary is a highlight reel of the park’s legacy for adrenaline-pumping thrill rides, some without much structural integrity or maintenance, and most attractions managed by ill-trained teens. There was carnage, and there were fatalities.

 
We are now in our third summer of the Covid Era, and, despite the economic upheaval, many people are ready to get back into the world, making the most of long days and seasonal entertainment.
 
How many people stop to think about the potential danger of an activity, even when we may need to sign a waiver to participate? How many people think, “Nah, not me, never going to happen.” But things can and do go wrong, sometimes minor, sometimes catastrophic. You should know your rights and liability in case of the worst transpiring. Maybe a neighbor’s child breaks a limb on your trampoline – did you know that not all homeowners’ policies cover trampolines? Or, if they do, you may be assessed at a higher premium. Nerd Wallet provides a good overview every homeowner should consider before installing a trampoline.

So, in the words of Baz Luhrmann, “wear sunscreen.” That is, maybe keep a running risk analysis in the back of your mind as you tick the boxes of your summer bucket list. But also remember Gray Law Group, working straight through those Summer Fridays, is waiting for your call in the event you find yourself injured, or someone else has been injured by your hand or on your property.