When Personal Injuries Lead to Unhappy Holidays

Why you need to exercise extra caution during the festive season

‘Tis the season for turkeys, Black Friday shopping, caroling and gift giving. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for serious personal injuries.

Not wanting to be a Grinch, but the facts are clear: the fall and winter holidays are one of the more dangerous times of the year for serious personal injuries.

Thanksgiving weekend is the fifth-deadliest time of the year for fatal auto accidents, according to federal crash data. A review of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that Los Angeles leads all U.S. in fatal crashes over the Thanksgiving period. Christmas and New Year’s also present elevated risk for serious auto accidents.

Why Are the Holidays More Dangerous?

One reason why the roads are deadlier is because people are feeling more festive. Drunk driving rates jump on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, with the number of accidents featuring an intoxicated driver jumping more than six-percent. And on New Year’s — upwards of 35% of serious collisions involve alcohol.

Another factor is bad weather. Winter weather played a role in 44-percent of Christmas holiday traffic fatalities, and 32-percent of Thanksgiving fatal crashes, according to federal data. This combination of poor weather conditions, and elevated rates of drinking and driving, create serious dangers for those who travel during this time of year.

Road accidents are not the only way to get a serious injury, however. Most of us have seen video of stampedes occurring on Black Friday, or people fighting over goods that are on sale. Large retailers can become quite chaotic over the holidays, which is something shoppers should bear in mind.

Other risks include an elevated chance of being injured while being victimized by a crime. When people are out shopping, criminals often are not far behind, seeking targets of opportunity.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season

To ensure you have a happy holiday, avoid traveling when road conditions are poor or during peak periods for drunk driving incidents (such as early morning on January 1). Additionally, exercise good caution and situational awareness when out in public shopping. Remember, your health and well-being is the best gift you can give your family.