How to Stay Safe | What to Do If You’re Injured
Though the holidays are generally a time of joy, they can also be dangerous. Consider the following:
- Approximately one in every ten motor vehicle accident fatalities occurs during the Christmas season.
- On average, 160 people are hurt every day during the holidays while doing some kind of decorating—nearly 60 of those daily injuries are sustained in falls.
- Slip and fall injuries escalate at the holidays, as more people are out and about and the weather conditions present more risk of injury.
What can you do to stay safe this holiday season? What should you do if you’re injured during the holidays?
Strategies for Staying Safe at the Holidays
Here are some specific ways to minimize the risk of needless injury at Thanksgiving or during the year-end holidays:
- On the road—First and foremost, don’t drink and drive. If you want to go to a holiday party, or if you know alcohol will be served, have a designated driver. Pay close attention to the weather. If there’s a risk of heavy snow, ice, sleet, or freezing rain, be willing to reschedule your family gathering, so that everyone can get there and back safely. Keep your vehicle properly maintained, so that you don’t break down in a dangerous place.
- While decorating—If possible, have someone spot you when you get on a ladder. Check the ladder before you use it to make certain it’s not damaged or falling apart. Don’t spread decorations all over the place; it’s a good way to trip and fall. Make certain you check all lights before you hang them.
- While out shopping—Wear appropriate footwear for the weather. Be proactive—where there’s a lot of foot traffic, there’s a greater risk of slippery conditions. Watch for accumulations of snow and ice. Park in well-lit lots or spaces. Be prepared for large crowds and take your time.
- At home—Don’t try to multitask when you’re cooking—it’s one of the common causes of home fires. Keep flammable items away from cooktops, and keep open flames away from wreaths and holiday trees.
What Should You Do If You’re Injured While Traveling for the Holidays?
After any type of accident, your health should be your first priority. If possible, immediately assess the extent of your injuries. If you’ve suffered any type of injury to your neck, head, or back, don’t try to move, as you can easily make things worse. Instead, wait until emergency personnel arrive and defer to their knowledge and expertise. Be willing to travel to the hospital in an ambulance, if necessary.
Even if your injuries seem minor and you can walk away from the accident, get medical attention as soon as possible, either at a hospital emergency room, an urgent care facility, or the offices of your primary care physician.
Often, the adrenaline your body produces during an accident can mask the pain or discomfort of more serious injuries. It’s also a common occurrence for your body to respond to trauma with swelling or inflammation, which can be problematic if you have any type of brain injury. Because inflammation can take some time to fully develop, getting timely medical care can be critical.
While still at the scene of the accident, if possible, gather as much information as you can about who was involved, who might have been a witness, and the conditions that led to the accident:
- Get contact information from other persons involved in the accident, such as names, phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, and insurance providers. This will help your attorney when it comes time to pursue damages for your losses.
- Get the same information from anyone who witnessed the accident. If possible, have them write or record a summary of what they saw while the facts are still fresh in their minds.
- If you are unable to gather the above information, ask another person at the scene to do it. Don’t rely on law enforcement officers to collect that information—it may or may not happen.
- If possible, take pictures of anything that might be related to the accident and its causes. That includes your injuries, damage to vehicles, weather conditions, road conditions and other factors that may have contributed to causing your injuries. The camera on your phone is fine to use for this purpose.
When you get medical attention, be sure to tell doctors and nurses about anything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on obvious injuries, such as a broken bone, and neglect to mention the stiffness in your back or neck. Make certain that medical personnel document everything in writing.
As soon as possible, you should find an experienced personal injury lawyer, one who has successfully handled the type of accident you had. Your attorney can be your liaison with insurers, helping you get the coverage your policy provides. Your lawyer can also ensure that you don’t do anything that unnecessarily jeopardizes your potential personal injury claim.
Contact the Proven Personal Injury Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we have effectively represented personal injury victims in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and across the state of Texas for more than four decades. In our years in practice, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments and settlements for personal injury victims.
We are proven trial attorneys who will be a strong voice for you in all proceedings. Contact us by e-mail or call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
