The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and gatherings with loved ones. However, this festive time of year also sees a notable increase in various types of accidents and injuries. Below, we discuss six common accidents that lead to holiday injuries.
1. Traffic Accidents
During the holiday season, roads become significantly more hazardous due to several factors:
- Drunk drivers: The prevalence of holiday parties and celebrations, unfortunately, leads to more intoxicated drivers on the roads. Research and data prove that alcohol-related fatalities typically spike during the holiday season. In such cases, liability often extends beyond the impaired driver to potentially include party hosts who over-served alcohol (social host liability), bars or restaurants that served visibly intoxicated patrons, and employers who served alcohol at company parties.
- Higher traffic volume: The combination of holiday shoppers, delivery vehicles, and travelers creates congested roads and increased accident risks. Contributing factors include:
- More delivery trucks making last-minute shipments
- Increased pedestrian traffic around shopping areas
- Out-of-town visitors unfamiliar with local roads
- Weather-related hazards (that vary based on location)
- Parking lot incidents: Shopping center parking lots become particularly dangerous during the holiday season. Common accidents include fender benders due to restricted visibility, pedestrian injuries from distracted drivers, and accidents and disputes over parking spaces leading to confrontations. Drivers are likely the liable party in these cases, but in some cases, property owners may also be liable for inadequate lighting, poor traffic flow design, or failure to maintain safe conditions in their parking facilities.
2. Burn Injuries
Burn injuries often occur during holidays that involve traditional cooking, candles, or fireworks. For instance, during Hanukkah, unattended menorahs can pose fire risks, while Diwali celebrations with numerous oil lamps and fireworks require careful handling.
In most cases, holiday fire and burn-related accidents often arise because of negligence surrounding:
- Cooking: Kitchen burns spike during major holidays as people prepare elaborate meals, often in crowded kitchens or while multitasking. Deep-frying foods, like traditional holiday turkeys or special festival dishes, present particular risks if proper safety measures aren't followed.
- Decorations: Candles and electrical decorations require supervision. Be mindful of frayed electrical lines and placement of flammable materials near open flames.
- Holiday activities: If you are planning to play games or have a movie night, be mindful of how close guests are to the fireplace. Also, take precautions if you have fireworks, sparklers, or other fire-related items.
3. Toy-Related Injuries
The gift-giving traditions of many holidays can lead to toy-related accidents. Small parts from newly opened presents can become choking hazards for young children. Product liability claims can be brought forward against manufacturers for choking, age-inappropriate features, and other design defects, as well as negligence surrounding the usage instructions.
Assembly-related injuries can also occur when parents rush to put together toys without carefully reading instructions. Additionally, accidents happen when children use new toys like scooters, skateboards, or other riding toys without proper safety gear or supervision. The excitement of holiday gatherings can also lead to younger children accessing toys meant for older siblings. However, these incidents are likely not grounds for pursuing injury claims.
4. Slips, Trips, & Falls
Winter holidays in particular see an increase in slip-and-fall accidents due to weather conditions, but these incidents occur year-round during celebrations. Wet floors from spilled drinks at holiday gatherings, decorations extending into walkways, and unfamiliarity with event venues all contribute to falls.
During winter celebrations like Christmas and Lunar New Year, icy walkways and stairs pose additional hazards. Indoor falls often occur when people use improper items like chairs or boxes instead of stable stepladders to hang decorations or reach high places.
5. Decoration-Related Accidents
Holiday decorating leads to numerous injuries annually, particularly from:
- Ladder falls: Property owners and employers must ensure:
- Proper ladder maintenance
- Safe usage training
- Appropriate weather conditions for outdoor decorating
- Professional installation when necessary
- Electrical hazards: Liability issues often involve overloaded circuits, improperly rated outdoor equipment, damaged light strings, and inadequate GFCI protection.
6. Food-Related Accidents
Food safety becomes particularly important during holidays when large gatherings involve catered meals or potluck dishes. During celebrations like Eid al-Fitr, Thanksgiving, or Passover Seders, food left at unsafe temperatures can lead to foodborne illness.
Professional caterers have a duty of care to prevent cross-contamination and properly label allergens. Religious or cultural dietary restrictions make accurate food labeling especially important. When food service professionals fail to maintain proper safety standards, they may be held liable for resulting illnesses or allergic reactions.
Contact Us If You Are Injured in a Negligence-Related Accident
The Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli has decades of legal experience and has dedicated our practice to handling personal injury cases. With experience handling countless cases, our team is equipped to help you navigate filing a claim if you have sustained holiday injuries.
Call (516) 628-6402 to schedule an initial consultation today.