According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 30% of all home fires and 38% deaths caused by home fires take place during the holiday season – the months of December, January, and February. Fires are not the only danger that families face during the holiday season – falls are another major concern as well. About 5,800 people are treated each year in hospital emergency rooms for injuries caused by falls and 4,000 are treated for injuries involving extension cords. Poisoning is another major danger during the holiday season. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2007, the majority of CO (carbon monoxide) deaths occurred in November through February. The holidays are a time for celebration and spending time with friends and family. They are a time when people decorate their homes and trees. But they can also be a time of hazards that you need to be aware of. There are essential safety tips that can help you avoid holiday accidents.
Be careful while decorating – Over 15,000 people are taken to hospital ERs every year due to injuries sustained while they are hanging or taking down decorations during the holiday season. If you have problems with vision, balance or mobility, make sure you take safety precautions. Also practice ladder safety and avoid decorating with fire hazards such as candles.
Practice Christmas tree safety – Every year, firefighters respond to a minimum of 200 calls involving home fires due to Christmas trees. To avoid such accidents, make sure that you do not buy trees that are already dried out. Never place your Christmas tree next to a heating source such as a fireplace, furnace, etc.
Get child-safe gifts – Every year, over 183,000 toy-related injuries are reported in the US with a large percentage of the injuries affecting children. Make sure that you get age-appropriate gifts. Do not get children below the age of 5 toys that have magnets, balloons, and small parts, as they can be swallowed and can cause potentially life-threatening injuries. If you or someone from your family has been injured in a holiday accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can hold them liable for damages and file a personal injury lawsuit against them. You may be eligible to receive compensation to cover damages including:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical costs
- Emotional distress
- Loss of income
When you have a personal injury case, you need to make sure that you hire an experienced attorney. For instance, if the injury was caused by a defective toy, you should hire a personal injury lawyer who has experience in handling product liability cases. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries due to negligence that caused a holiday accident, you should immediately seek the help of a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. We know how to win cases. We have been winning cases for years now and will continue to do so. If you want to be part of this winning list, give us a call and let’s evaluate your case. We have won millions of dollars for past clients, you too can be on this amazing and very satisfied list. Give us a call at RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. We work hard for our clients. We know what it takes to win.