The Potential Dangers of Lightning Storm Accidents and the National Campaign That Will Take Place Later This Month to Bring Awareness
We all know that one of the trade offs of living in sunny South Florida is the sudden lightning storm that can onset without warning. Additionally, we have all been in a situation where we had somewhere that we needed to be and were about to drive to when we noticed the bad weather. At that point, there are two options – attempting to wait out the storm before getting behind the wheel or simply taking your chances in the storm. As most of us have time obligations we need to meet, the second option often feels like the only option.
But unfortunately, the second option carries its own risks whenever a lightning storm passes over the area. Lightning strikes are rare and most of us will, fortunately, never encounter one. But unfortunately, when they do strike in the context in which a motor vehicle is involved, the results are typically deadly.
What Recent Example of These Tragedies Was in the News?
The South Florida Sun Sentinel has reported that a lightning strike recently killed a North Carolina man who was riding on a motorcycle on Interstate 95 in Volusia County. Florida Highway Patrol asserted that the unidentified 45-year-old man was driving southbound in the early afternoon near mile marker 271 when a lightning bolt struck the top of his helmet. The impact caused the man to lose control of his 2018 Harley Davidson and veer off the highway. He was thrown from the motorcycle when it flipped and sadly, died from his injuries.
How Serious Can Lightning Storms Be?
While lightning is a danger all year long, people spend more time enjoying the outdoors in the summer months, increasing their exposure. To combat this, there is a campaign known as National Lightning Safety Awareness Week which will take place between June 23rd and 29th of this year. This campaign was started in 2001 to call attention to how serious the implications of lightning storms can be and since it began, U.S. lightning fatalities have reportedly dropped from about 50 per year to about 30.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured Because of a Storm-Related Accident?
Car accidents don’t always involve two vehicles, especially when the cause of the accident is attributable to Mother Nature. The lightning storms that the Sunshine State is notorious for can lead to serious injuries that you and your passengers suddenly have to deal with. This can leave you facing mounting medical bills, lost compensation from your time off from work and an insurance company that doesn’t want to adequately compensate you for your pain and suffering. However, the state of Florida has laws in place designed to ensure that you can recover funds from your insurance company for any time that you are injured in an accident – even when yours is the only vehicle involved. The West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm offer the help and experience you need to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to begin.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Tampa, Bradenton, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach areas.
Resources:
sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-man-killed-lightning-bolt-interstate-95-20190609-m6qzxnh3pvdy5ajinkmnbkg7wq-story.html
lightningsafetycouncil.org/LSC-LSAW.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/summer-driving-safety-tips-for-teens/
