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The holidays are a time of joy, togetherness, giving thanks, indulging in delicious food – and injuries. Yes, you read that right. Unfortunately, more people are injured during the holidays than most other times of the year. There are many reasons for this, and no, it isn’t always because of too much egg nog. People sustain serious injuries during the holidays when cooking, decorating, driving, shopping, skiing, and everything in between. While the months of November and December are traditionally festive and filled with bright, colorful decorations and tons of cheer, they are also a time of tragedy and loss for some.
Causes of Holiday Accidents (And Statistics)
As mentioned, there are many different causes for accidents, injuries, and fatalities during the holiday months. For one, the majority of all carbon monoxide (CO) deaths occur between November and February. Let’s now look at some of the most common reasons we see people get injured during this joyful time of year:
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Driving Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Thanksgiving weekend results in 35 vehicle deaths each year and more than 2,300 injuries from car accidents. There is always a spike in the number of car accidents and fatalities during the holidays (not just Thanksgiving), as this is the busiest travel period of the year. Unfortunately, many driving accidents that take place during the holidays involve alcohol. Drunk driving is quite common during the holidays, which is why it is important for party hosts to provide sleeping arrangements, have taxi numbers handy, and encourage guests to use Uber. In addition to drunk driving, the road conditions are much more dangerous during the winter holiday months in many parts of the country. This is why October, November, and December also account for 40 percent of the year’s pedestrian-car accidents.
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Fires
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 30 percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur during the holidays, specifically the months of December, January, and February. There are numerous reasons why we see so many fires, for example, this time of year. From an increase in the number of fireplaces in use to more home cooking and open flames from candles, there are many factors that contribute to holiday home fires. Cooking equipment is the number one cause of all reported home fires during the holidays; and there are nearly 300 home fires each year due to a Christmas tree mishap and 150 caused by decorative lights. However, fires aren’t the only type of accident that we see take place during the holiday season.
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Holiday Decorating
Nearly 12,000 people are treated annually in hospitals during the holidays for injuries sustained from falls while putting up lights or other holiday decorations. Furthermore, approximately 4,000 people are treated in emergency rooms during the holidays for injuries associated with extension cords. More than half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, shocks or sprains. Many holiday decorating injuries involve falling from a ladder, cuts, and back strains.
We want both you and your loved ones to remain safe this holiday season. We encourage you to be mindful and take extra precautions when decorating, cooking, and traveling this time of year. If you have sustained a serious injury during the holidays, please contact Rad Law Firm today. Our personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions you may have and represent you in a court of law.
