The holiday season, usually defined as Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, are six weeks or so when personal injuries of all types seem to spike. It is important to remember the tips that can keep you and your family safe during this time, particularly if you are traveling or are having company at your home.
The personal injury attorneys at the Fitzgerald Law Firm in New York offer the following tips for staying safe during the holiday season:
- Avoid fire hazards. Fires increase substantially during the holidays, often due to electrical cords that are frayed or damaged. Cooking fires are also on the rise at this time of the year. Be sure that you have a working fire extinguisher handy, good smoke detectors and a fire escape plan for you and your family.
- Avoid DUI. Drinking and driving is the single biggest preventable cause of death and injury during the holidays. The answer to this problem is simple: do not do it. If you have even a single drink, use a designated driver or take a cab. Plan for transportation before you go to a holiday gathering so that you are not caught by surprise.
- Avoid defective products. Be careful about using new products you receive as gifts. Be sure to follow assembly instructions and handle with care to avoid injury. Every year, defective products cause many injuries, so be sure to return any items that are not working correctly.
- Avoid falls. Many people are injured by falling from ladders or chairs while putting up decorations. Many other people are injured by falls on icy or wet surfaces. Avoid falls by paying attention to your surroundings and using safety precautions. Try to have a partner to help you when you must put up decorations or otherwise climb a ladder, and avoid icy areas that have not been treated.
While it is important to be careful, it is also possible for you to be injured even if you take extra precautions. Sometimes, injuries are someone else’s fault and you are an innocent victim. No matter what type of injury you have sustained, you may be entitled to damages if the trauma was the result of someone else’s negligence.
The personal injury attorneys at the Fitzgerald Law Firm in New York are ready to help you with your injury case. We want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and remind you to be careful at this time of year.