5 Common Thanksgiving Accidents and How to Avoid Them
Millions of people across America will gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving. This year’s holiday is expected to be particularly busy, with an estimated 80 million people traveling 50 miles or more during Thanksgiving week. Unfortunately, increased activity leads to an increase in injuries. To help you and your family stay safe, the Kansas personal injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group discuss five common Thanksgiving accidents and how to avoid them.
Avoid These Thanksgiving Accidents to Keep Your Holiday Joyful
Our personal injury lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even during major holidays, like Thanksgiving. With that in mind, we’ve helped thousands of clients that were hurt in Thanksgiving accidents that were caused by the negligence or recklessness of others. Five of the most common injuries our clients have suffered from include:
1) Car Crashes
Traffic will be heavy throughout Thanksgiving weekend, with people driving to parties, Black Friday sales, and other events. Holidays typically see an increase in car accidents for a number of reasons, such as aggressive driving, speeding, and impaired driving.
You can reduce your chances of a Thanksgiving car wreck by allowing extra space for out-of-town drivers, paying extra attention to road conditions and weather alerts, and obeying local traffic laws. If you plan to consume alcoholic beverages or marijuana products, then use a designated driver, rideshare service, or taxi. Keep an eye on family and friends that are partaking in these products and make sure that they don’t get behind the wheel.
2) Burn Injuries
Like other food-centric holidays, Thanksgiving sees an increase in burn injuries. Kitchens are the obvious location for many burn injuries, with hot stoves and ranges being used to prepare food for gatherings. Some people use outdoor smokers and deep fryers to make turkey, both of which can lead to burns. For many households, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get cozy around fireplaces and firepits. Lastly, don’t underestimate scald burns from hot beverages, such as coffee and cider.
To lower your chances of burn injuries, make sure that your kitchen, grill, or outdoor fryer are monitored by a sober adult at all times. Pay special attention to children, who may be fascinated by large and complex appliances. When serving hot beverages, make sure to pour slowly and to use carafes that have grippy handles.
3) Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts are common during the Thanksgiving holiday, particularly in the kitchen. Busy hosts may get careless in the kitchen. This can be due to the pressure of getting everything ready in time for the party or due to the excitement of being reunited with family and friends. No matter the case, carelessness can be disastrous when wielding a sharp cleaver or chef’s knife. When using sharp kitchen utensils, be sure to take your time and emphasize safety.
Some Thanksgiving accidents happen due to careless hosts and guests unfamiliar with their property. Some people fail to cover up sharp objects and corners that they’re accustomed to avoiding, but may be a serious cut and laceration hazard to guests. Failing to provide a safe environment may leave you open to a premises liability lawsuit.
4) Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slip-and-fall accidents are common during Thanksgiving. These can happen for a wide variety of reasons, such as liquid spilled on the ground at parties, overly crowded stores during Black Friday sales, and people unfamiliar with new surroundings.
If you’re at a house or venue that you’re not familiar with, then be sure to pay attention to where you’re walking. Parties and restaurants can get busy and the property owner may not be able to clean up spills right away. If you’re planning to hunt for Black Friday deals, then be sure to wear cushioned socks and shoes with tacky soles to help you keep stable.
5) Food Poisoning
While most Thanksgiving meals are scrumptious happenings, there are times when spoiled or mishandled food is served, leading to sickness. Sometimes the food distributor or grocery store is at fault, and other times the responsibility falls to the person that prepared the food.
To avoid such situations, be sure to wash your hands before handling food, meticulously inspect food before preparing it, make sure that food is cooked thoroughly, serve food at proper temperatures, and store food properly.
Happy Thanksgiving from Patterson Legal Group
The team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday that’s full of beloved family, cherished friends, and delicious food. Should you get into an accident caused by another party, then do not hesitate to call us for assistance. We are available 24/7 to assist you and start building your personal injury claim.
You can reach the accomplished injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through encrypted contact form or by connecting with our LiveChat representatives. Our firm has helped thousands of injury victims in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado get the injury settlement they’re entitled to. Contact us today and take your first step towards justice.
