Estate Planning Attorneys 
Summer is synonymous with road trips, lounging by the pool, going to the beach, and other leisurely activities. Unfortunately, people tend to be more careless while they are in vacation mode. They may be driving in an unfamiliar area, or their judgment is impaired from alcohol or recreational drugs. The following are common summertime accidents and their potential legal consequences:
1. Car or RV Crashes
Your auto insurance provides coverage even if you are involved in a crash outside Florida or in a rental car. Florida is the only state where Bodily Injury coverage is not required, so if you are hit by an out of state driver, you will likely be able to recover damages from their auto insurance. If you are injured by a Florida driver, they may not have any liability coverage, so it is important that you have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage added to your own insurance policy.
2. Swimming Pool Dangers
There are approximately 1.6 million pools in Florida, more than in any other state. This means the risk of serious injuries from pool accidents such as falls around the pool area and drowning is extremely high. Even children who are strong swimmers should be supervised at all times. Homeowners insurance may cover such injuries as long as certain safety features (barriers or alarms) are installed.
3. Beach and Ocean Safety
In Florida, crowded beaches during the 4th of July long weekend increase the threat of drowning for boaters and swimmers, often due to a potentially fatal combination of alcohol and negligence. It’s best to be cautious and vigilant to ensure friends and family are always in plain sight around the beach.
Occasionally, even strong swimmers can get caught in a riptide. If you are caught in a rip current, STAY CALM and start swimming parallel to the shoreline. If you can’t swim, float or tread water and wave for help.
4. Fireworks
If your next door neighbor sets off a rocket and you suffer serious burns when it explodes, your neighbor’s insurance will likely not cover your injuries. That is because most insurance policies exclude coverage for illegal acts. Contrary to popular belief, Florida law prohibits setting off fireworks for recreational purposes without a permit. Of course, you may still be able to recover from your neighbor personally.
Jovita Wysocka Ahava is a partner at Ahava Law Group, P.A., representing personal injury, auto accident, slip and fall, nursing home, defective products and medical malpractice clients throughout the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas. Ahava Law Group, P.A. is a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm with offices in St. Petersburg, Brandon, Clearwater and Tampa. Attorneys Jovita Ahava and Ed Ahava have over 50 years of combined experience in injury law, litigation, and civil trials. Jovita is also fluent in Polish and is active in the local Polish communities. For more information on Ahava Law Group and our personal injury services, please visit www.AhavaLawGroup.com or contact us at (888) 554-9998 or Assistant@AhavaLawGroup.com.
