Summer Safety Guidelines: Four Basic Points

Jay Stillman

3 min read

At Stillman and Friedland, we want to help our clients think ahead to reduce day-to-day risks, and we also give you the tips you will need in case accidents happen. In this post, you will find links to previous helpful posts, as well as new and important information.

  1. Summer Driving: Always remember that when school is out, kids are in the streets, so drive cautiously whether backing out of your driveway or going down residential streets. Remember that distracted driving is more dangerous than drunk driving, so enforce discipline in the car so you can focus on the road. Giving sugary “treats” will only make kids hyper, so keep these to a minimum if you want to drive without refereeing fights in the back seat. Set rules for teenage drivers, and make sure they have an app which prevents them from texting while driving.
  2. Truck Accident Dangers: As gas prices remain low, shipping by truck continues to be economical. This means heavier truck traffic will be on the roads. If you are on the roads this summer, stay alert for truck traffic. Before you head out on a summer road trip, review our key pointers for steering clear of truck accidents. Remember that trucks operate differently from cars. Large blind spots, longer braking time, and sheer weight make trucks a different and deadly force on the road. Claims against trucking companies are also more complex. Our experience gives our clients a definite edge in getting a fair financial recovery.
  3. Food Safety: Whether summer time means eating outdoors or just eating out, warmer weather increases the risk of food spoilage. The best rule of thumb is to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. However, if you eat in restaurants or buy takeout you have no control over food storage and safety. At Stillman and Friedland we have seen an increase in food poisoning cases over the last few years. If you think that you contracted food poisoning eating out, you may have a case, so see your doctor and contact us.
  4. Disaster Contact Plan: If a natural or man-made disaster happens, are you prepared? During the school year when kids are on a regular schedule, you know at least where they are supposed to be during the day, and the school has a defined safety plan. Summertime is more fluid. It is even more urgent to have a plan in case emergency strikes. Good information is available on the American Red Cross website and the U.S. Government’s Ready site. Facebook has an emergency check-in feature which allows people to see that you are safe, but this is not a substitute for a plan that family members know and carry with them. Tennesseans should know that the THP and local police actively train with many capabilities to help out and save lives in the event of a disaster.
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