Accidents To Avoided This Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is the biggest travel day of the year, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for accidents, both inside and outside the home. In this blog, NY personal injury attorney David A. Resnick explores common types of accidents that occur on Thanksgiving and what you can do to avoid them.

Thanksgiving Accident Statistics

The following Thanksgiving accident statistics illustrate the many dangers that lurk at the beginning of the holiday season:

• According to the National Safety Council (NSC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 500 people die on average in traffic accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
• Roughly half of all vehicle occupants who die in Thanksgiving crashes are not wearing seat belts, and 29 percent of traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
• More home-cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year, with three times the daily average occurring that day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unintended cooking is the top contributing factor among accidental fires and fire deaths.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 1,400 emergency room visits occurred due to home football accidents on one recent Thanksgiving.

Common Types of Thanksgiving Accidents

Many of the accidents and injuries that occur on Thanksgiving are motor vehicle collisions. If you or someone you love gets hurt in a Thanksgiving car accident someone else causes, you should speak with a New York car accident lawyer right away.

However, not all Thanksgiving accidents happen on the road. Here are some common types of injury accidents that occur during the Thanksgiving holiday period:

• Cooking, frying, and barbecue fires
• Unintentional fires and burn injuries
• Slips and falls
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Food poisoning and allergic reactions
• Sports and recreational injuries
• Injuries that occur on unsafe premises
• DUI accidents and other traffic wrecks

When and Where Do Thanksgiving Accidents Occur?

For statistical purposes, the Thanksgiving holiday is a 4.25-day period that lasts from the end of the workday on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday. Many holiday accidents occur on Wednesday and Thursday, when countless Americans are traveling long distances to visit family and engaging in “Drinksgiving,” the most popular drinking day of the year.

A recent report from U.S. News & World Report suggests that the states with the most holiday car crashes are those in the South, the West, and the Midwest, while Northeastern states are typically much safer. In fact, New York had the second-lowest rate of traffic fatalities, with 0.43 per 100,000 people, behind only the District of Columbia, which had 0.24 fatal crashes per 100,000 people. Still, that is too many people who have lost their lives in preventable accidents.

Thanksgiving Injury Prevention Plan

No one can prevent every accident, but you can take the following steps to keep yourself and others a bit safer this Thanksgiving:

• If you plan to drive, leave early, never speed, and avoid traveling at night.
• Obey all traffic laws and never drive under the influence.
• Get plenty of rest before you drive, and take breaks as needed.
• Avoid driving distractions by putting your phone away before you leave.
• Never leave Thanksgiving cooking unattended.
• Thoroughly wash your hands and utensils when cooking.
• Make sure turkey and other meats are thoroughly cooked before serving.
• Ask your guests about food allergies before planning the menu or serving.
• Supervise children and make sure they stay away from fires or heat sources.
• Clean up trip hazards like clutter or slick walkways.
• Be safe when playing sports by wearing protective gear and not pushing yourself too hard.

Contact a NY Personal Injury Lawyer for Help

The traffic accident attorneys of David Resnick & Associates, P.C. hope your Thanksgiving is a joyous day of warmth and gratitude. But if you or someone you love gets hurt, we’re here to help. Contact us as soon as you can to speak with our compassionate team in a free initial consultation session.

Author: David Resnick

Founder of David Resnick & Associates, P.C., a New York personal injury law firm in charge of providing exceptional and personal service to each of our clients in various areas including car accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death, construction accidents, and premises liability. David Resnick founded the firm in 1998 after working in large law firms where he saw a need for greater client communication and more personal care.