Attorney
For children, summer is a season of freedom, but for ER doctors and personal injury lawyers, it is often referred to as “Trauma Season.” As the final school bells ring across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, the risk of serious injury spikes. Between the “100 Deadliest Days” of teen driving and the hidden hazards of summer camps, parents have a lot to manage.
At Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP, we’ve seen how one summer accident can change a family’s life. To help you keep your family safe, we’ve compiled the most critical safety alerts for Summer 2026.
1. Road Safety: The “100 Deadliest Days”
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the most dangerous time for teenagers on the road. Statistically, teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during these months.
- Distraction is the #1 Killer: Nearly 60% of teen crashes involve distracted driving—most often from using a phone or having too many friends in the car.
- The Speeding Factor: 35% of fatal teen crashes involve speeding.
- Parental Tip: Set a “no-friends-in-car” rule for the first few months of the summer, and enforce a strict “phone in the glovebox” policy. If a crash does happen, determining if a third party (like a reckless driver or a faulty vehicle part) was at fault is a crucial legal step.
2. Physical Hazards: Water, Fire, and Sound
- Drowning: This remains the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1–4. Never rely solely on a lifeguard; active, undistracted supervision is the only way to prevent a tragedy.
- The Fireworks Surge: New 2025/2026 data shows a 52% increase in fireworks injuries. Sparklers, which many parents consider “safe,” burn at 2,000°F—hot enough to melt metal.
- Hidden Hearing Loss: Fireworks and summer concerts often reach 150 decibels (the damage threshold is just 85 dB). Permanent hearing loss can happen in seconds.
- Safety Rule: Stay at least 500 feet away from professional displays and provide children with high-quality ear protection.
3. Digital Dangers: Screen Time & Online Safety
With more free time comes more time on devices. However, recent 2026 research has linked 2+ hours of daily screen time to “thinning of the brain” in children and suboptimal social development.
- Cyberbullying & Predators: Online predators often ramp up their efforts during the summer when children are less supervised.
- The “Social Circle” Audit: Do you know who your kids are talking to? Use the FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (SOS) guidelines to audit your child’s privacy settings and discuss the dangers of “moving the conversation” to a secondary app—a major red flag for predators.
4. Camp & Sports: Understanding Liability
When you drop your child off at summer camp or a sports league, that organization has a legal “duty of care” to keep them safe.
- Premises Liability: Camps must maintain safe equipment and grounds. Broken bones from a poorly maintained playground or a faulty zip line are often the result of negligence.
- Supervision Matters: If a child is injured due to a lack of counselor supervision or because the camp failed to run a background check on staff, the facility may be held legally liable for the damages.
- Heat & Hydration: In the 2026 heatwaves, heatstroke is a medical emergency. Camps that fail to provide adequate water breaks and shade can be held responsible for heat-related illnesses.
How Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP Can Help
Summer should be about making memories, not hospital visits. However, if your child is injured due to the negligence of a camp, a reckless driver, or a defective product, you don’t have to handle the aftermath alone.
With over $1 billion recovered for our clients, our team specializes in:
- Premises Liability: Holding property owners and camps accountable for unsafe conditions.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Fighting for families affected by teen or distracted driving crashes.
- Product Liability: Taking on manufacturers of defective fireworks, toys, or sports equipment.
Protect your family this summer. If the unthinkable happens, contact us for a free consultation. We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we win for you.
Stay safe, stay vigilant, and enjoy the sun!