As with most holidays, there is a spike in accidents around Thanksgiving. Sometimes it is the weather, other times it is outside forces (such as alcohol). Regardless, you don’t want to look back on this Thanksgiving as a negative – instead, you want to see the positive, and that means knowing the highest risk activities that cause accidents and how to avoid them.
What Are the Most Common Accidents around Thanksgiving?
Accidents around the holidays span from car crash accidents to burns and more. Make sure you know the risks this holiday season and work to keep yourself and everyone around you safe.
Auto Accidents
Auto vehicle accidents are by far one of the more common accidents you see on Thanksgiving. Not only do you have the issue of bad weather, but you have multiple cars on the highway (everyone speeding to where they need to go), and some of those motorists might even be intoxicated on their way home.
The cost of travel is high, and with fewer people flying this year, you may see even more vehicles on the road this year than previous ones.
While you cannot control other drivers’ actions, you can control your own. A few things you will want to do before you get behind the wheel for Thanksgiving travel include:
- Have a designated driver if you plan to drink. If you are going to drink at your destination, then make sure you already have a designated driver to take you back home safely. Even if you have had only a few drinks, those few could be all it takes to impair your driving skills.
- Keep an eye on the weather. Check the weather reports close to your travel dates and try to avoid driving if there is any inclement weather reported. While that might mean leaving a few hours (or even a day) earlier or later, it could make a difference when it comes to your safety on the road. If you have no choice but to drive while there is bad weather, proceed with caution. Make sure you are prepared for heavy snow, ice, or rain, slow your speeds, make sure your headlights are on, and keep your speed limit slightly slower just to maintain control of your vehicle.
- Make sure your car is ready for the road. When was the last time you had your tire pressure checked? Have you made sure your brakes are still good? If you are traveling a distance, have your vehicle checked to make sure everything is safe and working as it should before you start driving.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are also common around Thanksgiving, because in most areas, temperatures are starting to decline, icy sidewalks and parking lots are more common, and the chance of slipping and injuring yourself increases. Make sure you are wearing the right footwear for the weather. If it is icy outside, avoid running, especially on surfaces where you know ice might be present.
On your property, make sure you have done your due diligence in keeping it safe. That includes removing any ice on your sidewalks, walkways, and porches where others may walk. If someone were to slip and fall outside of your home, you could be liable for their injuries, which includes monetary damages.
Trip and Fall Accidents
With the holidays comes a lot of clutter, and if your home or someone’s home you are visiting has extra furniture or items in the way, a person can easily trip over those, fall, and injure themselves. Be extra careful when you are walking around, especially around stairwells. Also, take a look at the stairs themselves and make sure there are no tripping hazards, such as loose carpeting, that could cause you to fall down the stairs.
Burn Injuries
Burns are also common during Thanksgiving – after all, it is the holiday that is all about cooking. Whether the burn happens in the kitchen while pulling something from the oven, or while trying to deep fry a turkey, burns can cause profoundly serious, if not life-threatening, injuries.
If you or a family member plans to deep fry a turkey, make sure they take all necessary precautions – and definitely do not do it indoors.
If there are little ones around while you are cooking, make sure you keep the kitchen area safe. That means keeping pot handles facing back so that little hands cannot grab them, monitoring children and keeping them away from the oven and stovetop while it is in use, and not placing any hot items on the countertop where they can be reached easily.
While cooking, try to have as few people as possible in the kitchen. The more people in the kitchen, the more likely you could be bumped into the stove or oven where you are cooking – and possibly suffer from a serious burn injury.
Your Rights If You Are Injured over the Holiday
If you or a loved one suffers injuries during Thanksgiving, you do have rights. First, you have the right to hold that responsible party accountable for their actions, including receiving compensation for your injuries. You can receive compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
Speak with a Local Attorney to See If You Have a Claim
If your Thanksgiving accident was caused by someone’s negligence, then you may have a personal injury case. However, personal injury law is extremely complicated, and no one should attempt to decipher that alone. Instead, you need an advocate that knows the local laws and can help fight for your right to compensation.
Schedule a no-obligation case evaluation with Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today. He can review the circumstances of your Thanksgiving accident, determine who is liable, and help seek compensation. While you are recovering from a serious injury, the last thing you need to worry about is whether or not you can get the compensation you deserve.
Schedule your consultation now by calling our office or contact us online with your questions.
