Avoiding Common Holiday Injuries in Florida

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… unless your holiday preparations take a turn for the worse and you end up in the emergency room.  

From falling off a ladder to pedestrians being injured in busy parking lots, an experienced Tampa personal injury attorney understands just how disastrous these types of accidents can be.  

Holiday Injury Statistics

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that an estimated 18,400 injuries were sustained by people decorating or otherwise preparing for the upcoming holiday season in one recent year. The majority of these injuries were caused by falls, usually while hanging Christmas lights or other decorations from trees and rooftops. A lot of people endured sprains, strains, lacerations, and contusions although two of these accidents did prove fatal.  

Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission documented 10 fatalities, 10 serious injuries, and about $12 million in property damage stemming from approximately 100 Christmas tree fires. There were also around 20 injuries that were caused by non-edible objects being swallowed and dozens of burn injuries that resulted from the preparation of holiday meals. 

As far as holiday driving is concerned, injuries often result from drunk driving accidents caused by motorists who had a few too many at a friend’s holiday celebration. Pedestrian accidents also occur more frequently, particularly at shopping malls, intersections, and other areas with a high degree of foot traffic. These accidents are usually precipitated by hurried, inattentive, or tired motorists.

Depending on your health insurance coverage, you might be fully covered for the expenses associated with treating a few of these injuries. If your injuries are serious, however, and someone else’s carelessness was at least partially responsible for your accident-related injuries, we strongly encourage you to speak with a Tampa personal injury attorney. 

Staying Safe During the Holidays

Taking into account the commonality of injuries endured while preparing for and during holiday festivities, we have compiled a list of tips to help you and your family stay safe while still enjoying this time with family and friends. 

Ladder Safety

Approximately 566,000 people every year in the United States sustain injuries by falling off a ladder. Most of these accidents take place during the holiday season. Prior to using a ladder, make sure that you inspect it thoroughly for loose hinges, screws, or rungs. If you find signs of wear or damage, do not use it.  You can sustain severe injuries even if you are only on one of the lower rungs. Set your ladder up on even ground and make sure you have someone with you.

Tree Safety

If your family purchases a live Christmas tree, ensure it is fresh, green, and well-watered. This will decrease the chances of it catching fire. If you buy an artificial Christmas tree, make sure it is fire-resistant. Fire resistance does not mean that your tree can’t go on fire, but it is more resistant to high temperatures. Place your tree away from any source of heat and check to make sure your smoke detectors are working.  

Don’t Drink and Drive

The United States National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism published that 40% of all vehicular fatalities from Christmas to New Year’s involve drivers who are under the influence. This figure is 12% higher than the other three weeks in December. That total jumps up to 45% in the days just before and after Christmas and 54% in the days just before and after New year’s Day. 

As with every kind of personal injury case, the endless number of variables makes your claim unique. This is just one of the many reasons why hiring a skilled attorney is beneficial to your Florida personal injury claim. Your attorney will know the most thorough and efficient way of collecting vital evidence that proves you were not at fault for the accident. Establishing this fact is essential to the success of your Tampa personal injury case.

If you have sustained injuries during any kind of accident that was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, there is evidence out there that will substantiate your claim. A reputable personal injury attorney from Fulgencio Law will be able to help you. Call us at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your free Tampa personal injury consultation today.