Summer is supposed to be carefree. Long days, popsicles, sunscreen-smeared cheeks, and water everywhere. It’s the season kids wait for all year. But as a personal injury attorney (and a mom of three), I know all too well how quickly a joyful summer memory can turn into a tragedy. In fact, summer is one of the most dangerous times of year for children. Drownings, pedestrian injuries, bike crashes, trampoline accidents, and hot car incidents all spike when school’s out. These aren’t rare, freak accidents. They’re patterns—many of which are preventable.

Let’s start with the swimming pool. That shimmering water in your neighborhood isn’t just “a pool.” It’s the number one location for accidental death in children under five. Every summer, I hear from devastated parents who thought someone else was watching, assumed the gate was latched, or believed a lifeguard meant their child was safe. In just seconds, everything changed.

Then there are golf carts, e-bikes, and scooters—more popular than ever and often completely unregulated. If your child is hit by one, or worse, is the one driving it, the legal picture is complicated. Most families don’t realize that their homeowner’s or auto insurance may not cover these incidents at all. That’s a terrible time to find out what isn’t covered.  

And we can’t ignore car heatstroke. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Florida consistently ranks among the worst states for hot car deaths. These tragedies happen fast, and they happen to loving, attentive parents. The answer isn’t shame. It’s awareness and habits that protect our kids when our brains are fried from heat, stress, and summer chaos.