The Most Common Personal Injuries During the Holidays
While the holidays are a time to engage in activities such as gathering with family and friends, holding parties and dinners, going on road trips and vacations, or enjoying winter weather, these activities all come with the risk of accidents and injuries. Below are some of the most common personal injuries and their causes that occur during the holidays that you should be mindful of so that you can take steps to keep yourself and your loved one safe during this holiday season.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries During the Holidays
Some of the most common personal injuries and causes of injuries that occur during the holidays include:
- Burns, typically caused by kitchen accidents, accidents involving deep frying turkeys, or accidents with fireplaces or firepits.
- Respiratory injuries from fires or from carbon monoxide inhalation from improperly configured or malfunctioning fireplaces or gas lines.
- Slip and fall accidents caused by slippery or icy sidewalks or walkways.
- Falls from heights, which often involve people falling off ladders or roofs when putting up holiday decorations.
- Traffic accidents, including car accidents on the highway during road trips, accidents in town caused by distracted or aggressive drivers, or pedestrian accidents, particularly in parking lots and parking garages at shopping centers or malls.
- Overexertion injuries caused by trying to move heavy Christmas trees or decorations, or when shoveling snow and ice after a winter storm.
- Winter sports accidents, including accidents while skiing, snowboarding, skating, sledding, or snowmobiling.
Ways That Third Parties May Be Responsible for Injuries You Suffered over the Holidays
In some cases, people sustain personal injuries during the holidays due to their own carelessness or recklessness, or simply due to an unforeseeable accident. However, in other cases, personal injuries may be caused by the negligence or legal fault of third parties. You may be entitled to pursue a legal claim for injuries you suffered over the holidays that were caused by:
- A driver distracted by their cell phone
- An intoxicated driver
- A drowsy or fatigued driver, especially truck drivers who exceed their hours of service limits to deliver cargo on time for the holiday season
- A property owner that failed to shovel and treat sidewalks and walkways for snow and ice
- A snowmobile or winter sports equipment manufacturer who put defective or dangerous products onto the market
- Toymakers who sell dangerous or defective holiday gifts
- Home builders or maintenance companies that perform negligent work on residential fireplaces or gas lines
In these circumstances, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries in a personal injury claim.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to in a Personal Injury Case
When someone else bears responsibility for causing injuries that you suffered during the holidays, you may be entitled to seek financial recovery for expenses and losses you sustained due to your injuries, including for:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of injuries
- Costs of long-term care for permanent disabilities or impairments
- Lost wages or income from missed time from work
- Loss of future earnings after being disabled from employment
- Physical pain and emotional trauma or distress
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life due to physical disabilities or disfigurement/scarring
Contact a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Holiday Accident Case in Pennsylvania
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a holiday accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC represent clients injured because of auto accidents in Butler, Cranberry Township, Erie, Greensburg, and throughout Pennsylvania. Call (412) 471-4300 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 310 Grant St. #720, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.