Now that we have entered November, the holiday season is just around the corner. Starting with Thanksgiving and ending with New Year’s Day, this time of year is associated with festive gatherings with loved ones, decorating homes, shopping for gifts, long road trips, and being jolly and merry during the last two months of the year.
However, the cold winter months present several hazards that we all should be mindful of to avoid spending the holidays recovering from injury.
The following are the five most common holiday accidents:
- Car accidents – Many holiday celebrations involve alcohol consumption, which often leads to an increase in drunk driving accidents, injuries, and fatalities, from the day before Thanksgiving (also known as Blackout Wednesday) until New Year’s Day. The winter season also comes with inclement weather, such as snow, ice, rain, and gusty winds, which can make the roads more slippery and vehicles more difficult to drive. Other common causes of car accidents during the holidays include distracted driving, drowsy driving, stressed driving, and unfamiliar driving (especially if you are taking a road trip to a place you haven’t been before).
- Slips and trips – Snow and ice on walking surfaces can cause anyone to slip and fall, which is why thousands of people are injured every year during the holidays. Property owners are legally obligated to clear snow and ice on their premises, including driveways and sidewalks. Additionally, extension cords, presents, Christmas tree skirts, and other holiday objects can trip people and lead to a serious injury.
- Falls from heights – Many people take pride in decorating their homes with flashing lights and holiday-related objects, which also include hanging lights and decorations on the roof. Unfortunately, thousands of people are injured every year from falls while holiday decorating. Holiday decorators generally fall from roofs, ladders, stairs, furniture, and porches.
- Electrocution – Not only are falls from heights associated with holiday decorating, but also electric shocks caused by damaged, faulty, or poorly installed lights. Furthermore, people may overload sockets by plugging in the Christmas tree lights and other holiday decorations.
- Fires – Natural Christmas trees can dry out, which can make them quite flammable. Many house fires during the holidays are caused by Christmas trees and candles. Faulty lights and decorations can also result in a house fire.
If you plan on drinking during a holiday gathering, find an alternative ride home through a designated driver or ride request from Uber or Lyft. If you are going on a long road trip, plan ahead by checking all the potential routes to your destination, as well as the weather and traffic conditions you may encounter during your drive.
If you are going to decorate your home, avoid decorating alone or while under the influence of alcohol. To avoid house fires, use an artificial Christmas tree instead of a real one.
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by negligence in Dallas, Houston, or Chicago, call Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers at (214) 739-0100 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation. Our team of personal injury lawyers in Dallas has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients!