Common Accidents During the Holidays and How to Avoid Them

The holidays are for friends and family to kick back and enjoy time together, but it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Unfortunately, accidents during the holidays are all too common, and there’s nothing that can kill the holiday spirit faster. The good news is that you can take steps to avoid such incidents, and it all starts with recognizing the risks. Our legal experts have worked through plenty of holiday seasons, and we have long noticed a pattern in the types of claims that result from the days surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s. Here’s what you need to know in order to stay safe and avoid common accidents this holiday season:

Vehicle Accidents Rise this Time of Year

With so many people traveling, it’s only natural that the rate of car accidents ticks up during December. People also tend to be more stressed around this time, and this combined with the fact that alcohol is often plentiful during holiday events just creates a recipe for disaster. It also doesn’t help that people have other costs this time of year thanks to traveling and giving gifts, and so vehicle maintenance tends to not be a top priority. You can help lower your own risk though by staying off the roads as much as possible, making sure your car is in good shape, driving with awareness (and when you’re not fatigued) and of course avoiding driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Alcohol-Related Incidents Are All Too Common

It’s no secret that alcohol consumption often rises around the holidays. After all, many of us are attending parties and gatherings during the evenings, and it’s only natural that alcohol be involved. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not drink in moderation, and this can lead to unsafe or careless behavior not just on the roads but while we’re on our feet. Alcohol-related incidents can happen both inside and outside of the home, and they can be anything from a car accident to someone slipping and falling in a living room. The best way to avoid such incidents is of course to moderate alcohol consumption, but additional precautions (like making sure a space is clean and safe before a party) can be taken as well.

People Suffer From Product Injuries

Many people celebrate by putting up holiday decorations, and new products in general are often abundant thanks to gifts and parties. However, product-related injuries are also abundant (though the good news is that you may actually be entitled to a liability claim in these cases), and there’s no faster way to ruin a holiday than with a trip to the hospital. Nevertheless, you can do what you can to avoid product injuries by always reading and following instructions as well as keeping them away from children.

Cooking Accidents Rise

Who doesn’t like eating all the great food and treats that come with the holidays? Unfortunately, more time spent in the kitchen combined with the regular distractions that come with the holidays means a greater risk for cooking-related incidents. It is imperative that proper safety methods always be practiced in the kitchen like putting away utensils and equipment once they are no longer needed, cleaning thoroughly and frequently, and making sure that there are not too many people in the kitchen at once.

Holiday Fatigue and Stress Affect Even the Best of Us

Let’s face it— the holidays are fun, but they sure can be tiring. After all, there are presents to be purchased and wrapped, special foods to be made, work to finish before days off and family and friends to see in the middle of all of it. Even those who are the most excited for them often find themselves having to contend with long lists of things that need to get done. But while it can be easy to brush holiday fatigue and stress aside as just minor annoyances, the truth is that the situation can be pretty serious. When our bodies are stressed out and / or lacking in sleep, we become more prone to making errors and getting into accidents. It is therefore crucial to make rest a priority during the holidays, and potentially dangerous activities that require focus (like driving and cooking) should be avoided when fatigue sets in. For those who just can’t seem to stop being busy, it is always a good idea to ask others for help as needed.

Know Who to Call If Accidents Happen

Sometimes accidents still happen even when we do take careful measures to avoid them. But instead of panicking, the best thing you can do next is to take control of the situation. Making sure you have the right legal assistance lined up will help you file any necessary claims with ease. When you’re ready, please feel to contact us for more information. If you or a loved one have already been involved in a holiday-related accident, we’re here to help you get any compensation you may be entitled to.