Avoiding personal injury during the holiday season is more complex than usual. It's a time when people are with family and friends, enjoying the company of others and spreading goodwill. It's also a time of increased risk for personal injury. Most people recognize that accidents happen during the holiday season, but many don't realize just how common these injuries are. The National Safety Council (NSC) says that about one in four people will be involved in an accident during the holidays. That's more than 400,000 people per day! It further forecasts 39,500 nonfatal medically consulted injuries and 346 fatalities that may result from crashes on U.S. roads during this Christmas Day holiday.
To help you stay safe this holiday season, Kalfus & Nachman's award-winning holiday-season accident attorneys have put together this list of common scenarios that can lead to personal injury and how to prevent them.
Common Holiday Accidents and Injuries in Virginia
The holiday season is a time of celebration and joy. With all the festivities, it's easy to forget about safety. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious injuries. We've rounded up the most common holiday season accidents that can happen while people are enjoying themselves.
- Car Wrecks: Holiday season accidents are common, especially if you're driving. Make sure you're focused on the road ahead and not on what's happening around you! If you're behind the wheel on the road during the holidays, avoid distractions like cell phones or music players while driving.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slips and falls are expected during the holiday season because people tend to wear their shoes less often than usual—and it may be slippery when they wear them! Keep an eye out for wet floors or icy sidewalks so that you don't get hurt from slipping or falling stairs or outside onto concrete surfaces where there isn't much traction available for your shoes' rubber bottoms (which could break off during an accident).
- Holiday Decoration Accidents: Holiday decorations can be dangerous and result in serious injuries, such as lacerations, fractures, and burns. Most holiday decoration accidents include the use of ladders or anything to substitute for a ladder. Holiday fall injuries can also occur due to tripping or slipping on decoration items such as tree ornaments, garlands, gift wraps, or extension cables.
- Electrical Accidents: Electric accidents are the most common type of holiday season injury. People are more likely to get electric shocks due to overloaded extension cords, portable and decorative lights with frayed cords, and electric appliances relying on outside power sources. Replace damaged or worn cables and avoid overloading electrical outlets.
- Stove Top Burns: People tend to cook more during the holidays—stovetops can get hot fast! If you're cooking something on any stovetop that gets hot quickly, be sure not to leave anything unattended, even for a second. Also, ensure there is nothing flammable near it.
- Fires: There are several methods for holiday decorations to ignite a fire, ranging from holiday lights to Christmas trees. Check any Christmas lights and electrical decorations for frayed cords and repair any broken holiday decorations. If you're using an artificial Christmas tree, make sure it's flame retardant. Candles, tea lights, outdoor lights, and other similar products can start fires quickly.
- Dog Bites: You may not be able to control other dogs' actions, but you can take measures to protect yourself from attack. If you see another dog acting aggressively, try to avoid it. If you are a pet owner, ensure your dog has a leash on at all times when in public.
Tips for Safe Driving During the Holiday Season in VA
To avoid accidents causing personal injury during the holiday season, keep in mind that the risk of auto accidents is increased during this time of year, and be prepared for them. Accidents occur over the holiday season because people are more likely to be impaired, distracted, or fatigued.
With events like Blacksburg's annual Winter Lights Festival, the holiday season kicks off in Virginia. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe on the roads:
- Avoid driving if tired: Ensure you're well-rested before leaving. Only drive if you are energized and focused. There may be better choices than getting behind the wheel. If you are driving while tired or distracted, call a cab or get someone else to drive you home.
- Don’t drive drunk: Don't drive after drinking alcohol-even if it's just one drink. Most states limit how much alcohol is okay to drink before driving, so make sure that number is lower than what you think is safe for yourself! Drunk driving crashes often lead to catastrophic injury or death.
- Buckle up: Always wear your seatbelt when in your car! It could save your life if someone hits your vehicle. The NSC estimates 138 lives will be saved by car occupants wearing seat belts during the Christmas Day holiday period, and an additional 80 lives could be saved if everyone wears a seat belt,
- Avoid driving after dark: This is one of the first things we tell our clients when they come for a consultation. As we all know, driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day, especially when it's dark outside! When it gets dark outside, your eyesight is impaired, making it much harder to judge distances between objects on the road ahead of you.
- Contact an attorney right away: If you're out on the road during the holiday season and get into a crash, you may face serious injuries and medical bills that you may not have the means to cover. Thus, it is crucial to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Experienced Injury Lawyers For Virginia Holiday Accidents
Season's greetings from everyone at Kalfus & Nachman! May the upcoming holiday season be joyful and safe for you and your loved ones. After reading this article, we hope you're aware of the dangers of the holiday season and how to avoid them. The holidays are a time for celebration and getting together with loved ones, but it is also important to remember that dangers are lurking around every corner during this time of year.
Contact Kalfus & Nachman’s experienced Virginia holiday accident injury lawyers if you or a family member has been injured in a Virginia holiday accident due to someone else's negligence or carelessness. Call us for a free consultation today: 855-880-8163
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