As the holiday season approaches, it is important for residents of Santa Fe to understand some of the most common causes of personal injuries that occur during this time of the year. While personal injuries can happen in New Mexico regardless of the season, you should know that certain types of injuries are more common during the holidays, and they often result from negligence. In some cases, it may be possible to file a personal injury claim if another party’s negligence caused your injuries. What are some of the most common types of injuries that you should be aware of as the holidays approach? Consider the following information from UCLA Health concerning the most frequently cited holiday accidents and ways you can avoid them.
Falls
Falls are among the leading causes of holiday season injuries. Falls can occur at home while you are attempting to hang holiday decorations, or in slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents while you are out shopping for gifts at local retail stores. Icy pathways in particular can result in serious slip and fall injuries. It is important to take precautions to prevent falls from heights as well as slips and falls. If you believe another party’s carelessness resulted in your injury — including the failure to properly maintain the premises where a slip and fall occurred — you could be eligible to file a claim.
Toy Injuries and Defects
Toys routinely cause serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries during the holidays. In many cases, toys that are sold have significant product defects that can result in child injuries. Sometimes those defects occur in the process of designing or manufacturing the toy, which means that the product itself is dangerous. In other cases, the defect might be a marketing defect or failure to warn, meaning that the product itself may not be inherently dangerous, but it may have been marketed to the wrong age group, or the marketing materials may have failed to warn about certain injury risks in use.
Fires and Burn Injuries
House fires caused by holiday decorations can cause fires to start, which can result in severe and life-threatening burn injuries. You may be able to avoid some burn injuries by ensuring that all lights have been strung and used properly, and making sure that trees and other decorations are not placed anywhere near heating devices.
Traffic Collisions
The holiday season often results in higher rates of traffic collisions. With more motorists on the road, including more intoxicated drivers, serious traffic crashes can occur. If you were injured in a car accident, it is important to speak with an auto accident lawyer to determine whether the crash resulted from another party’s negligence.
Kitchen and Household Cut and Laceration Accidents
When you are cooking during the holidays, or wrapping gifts, it can be easy to experience a serious cut or laceration injury caused by scissors or a kitchen knife. Other common kitchen injuries include burns while using the stovetop or oven. According to UCLA Health, even though you might be accustomed to using sharp kitchen knives or other tools, or quickly using scissors for gift wrapping, anytime you are rushing or you get distracted, you could unexpectedly suffer a serious laceration injury. When you are using a knife or scissors, it is important to take your time and be precise. In addition, if you are using scissors, you should cut away from yourself.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Santa Fe
If you need help filing a personal injury claim during the holidays, you should seek advice from one of our Santa Fe personal injury lawyers today. Contact Slate Stern Law for more information.