Thanksgiving is just around the corner—a holiday dedicated to feasting on rich food with the family and friends you hold dear. The approaching holiday weekend is meant to be a joyous occasion. However, more often than you might expect, Thanksgiving mishaps can lead to disastrous injuries and trips to the emergency room. As personal injury lawyers in the St Louis Metro East, we wanted to pass this information on to our neighbors.
In today’s post, we outline three core safety hazards to be aware of this long holiday weekend:
Wednesday through Sunday
The number of travelers on the road skyrockets over the Thanksgiving holiday—leading to increased congestion and a greater chance of crashes. In particular, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—known as Blackout Wednesday—tends to see an especially high rate of drunk driving. Drivers should remain alert and defensive on the road. Never drive when you’re drunk or drowsy, and limit your distractions while driving.
Thursday
It may seem like sitting at home, eating pie and watching football are just about the most innocuous activities imaginable. In actuality, you’re three times more likely to have a kitchen fire on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. With all of the hustle and bustle of preparing the Thanksgiving meal—the variety of dishes to keep track of, the crowds of guests and the alcohol consumption—kitchen mishaps are especially common. Keep small children out of the kitchen on Thanksgiving, and avoid using turkey fryers—which frequently lead to devastating burns and property damage.
Friday
If you’re planning to head to the mall for Black Friday sales, beware of a growing phenomenon known as “retail rage.” Frantic holiday shoppers often become cut-throat—and even violent—on Black Friday. Wear shoes with good treads to avoiding slip-and-fall accidents. If you take your children to the sale, arrange a meeting point in a low-traffic area of the store, in case you get separated.
We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday. However, if you suffer injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness this weekend, it’s important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney immediately to understand your legal recourse.
