Tips to Avoid Injuries During The Holidays in Atlanta

Injuries can prevent you from enjoying the festivities during the holidays and cost you significantly in terms of medical expenses and loss of income. You can work with a personal injury and accident attorney from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to help put the odds in your favor to recover compensation. Our legal team has extensive experience in handling cases involving slip and fall injuries, burn injuries, and other accidents during the holiday season. Reach out to us at (833) 254-2923, or contact us online to set up an appointment to discuss your case.

The holiday season is filled with activities, stressful situations, and exciting events. But accidents happen to all sorts of people, even during the holiday season. In fact, walking and driving accidents are more likely during December than during any other month.

These accidents often occur when people are distracted by the events surrounding them or have been drinking alcohol, and the result is usually someone who scraps their leg, bangs their head, or hurts their back. So, if your injuries keep you from feeling like yourself this holiday season, know that you can take steps to help combat any undue stress.

Safe Driving Tips

Since the holidays are the busiest times on the road, most accidents happen during this time of year. There is an increased risk of accidents because there is more traffic on the roadways due to holiday shopping or road congestion. However, there are some things you can do to lower the risk and be better prepared for whatever might happen on the road.

• Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. Pile-ups often occur when cars slow down or stop suddenly, and drivers behind the crash attempt to stop themselves or avoid hitting the crash. In many cases, a pile-up can be avoided if a driver keeps enough space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of it.
• Seatbelts save lives. Unfortunately, many people fail to buckle up even when riding in a car with a seat belt. As a result, many car accident deaths could have been prevented. Therefore, you should always wear your seatbelt when driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle.
• Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol impairs judgment and motor skills, so it is never safe to drink and drive. Having one drink should never be an excuse for getting behind the wheel of your vehicle while intoxicated. Stay sober after any holiday party or event where alcohol was served. If you consider drinking alcohol, take public transportation home or arrange for someone else to drive you home.
• Before heading out, ensure that your vehicle is fully functional and safe. Make sure it has uncontaminated tires, and check the brakes and lights. Have the oil and fluids changed and the battery tested. If you have to drive a long distance, fill up your gas tank – you don’t want to run out of fuel on the road. That not only slows others down but wastes precious holiday time on repairing your vehicle rather than enjoying your loved ones.
• If you must talk on the phone, pull over to the side of the road before doing so. No text messaging while driving. No emailing while driving either. Remember that your eyes have to be on the road at all times. If you have children in your car, do not allow them to distract you by asking questions or making comments unless it is an emergency.
• Be cautious around pedestrians as well. Many people will be walking near roads or crossing streets, so pay attention to your surroundings and use caution when approaching crosswalks, intersections, and pedestrian walkways.

Safety Tips for Home Decoration

Everyone is busy finalizing holiday cards, baking cookies, and finishing up last-minute shopping. Unfortunately, this can be stressful for homeowners doing decorations – full of long nights and early mornings. Whether you are getting decorations from a store or making your homemade decorations, it can be easy to overwork yourself during the busy holiday season. Below are some tips for staying safe when adorning your house this holiday season:

• When you are hanging Christmas lights, inflatable decorations like snowmen and reindeer, use a step ladder rather than standing on a chair or other piece of furniture. When using a ladder, always face the ladder and never try to move the ladder while standing on it.
• When using electric lights, make sure that they are placed at least three feet away from flammable objects, such as curtains. If you are hanging lights around your home, do not overload electrical outlets. It is best to turn off unused outlets to prevent fires from sparks caused by overloaded circuits. In addition, be sure to check any outdoor lighting for broken or cracked bulbs before use to avoid fire hazards. Finally, make sure that the electrical cords of your lights are not frayed or cracked. If you notice any damage to the cords, discontinue using them immediately and replace them with new ones.
• If you have young children in your home, be sure that they do not play with or near any decorations that contain small parts. Likewise, if you have pets in the house, do not place decorations on their food and water bowls and do not allow them to play with the items.
• Candles can be decorative for any occasion, but they pose a fire hazard if mishandled or misused. Do not use lit candles indoors unless there is adequate ventilation and never leave them unattended while burning. If possible, avoid using decorative candles on your Christmas tree. When using electric lights on a tree, it is highly recommended that you only use light strings that have been tested for safety by an independent laboratory.
• When using fireplaces during the holidays, be sure to keep flammable materials such as holiday trees at least three feet away from them. The heat can cause trees and other flammable items to ignite and catch fire. Never leave a burning fireplace unattended, and make sure that all embers are out before leaving your home for the evening.

Safety Tips for Cooking in the Kitchen

The most common cause of household injuries is cooking mishaps, so being prepared for this worst-case scenario will help prevent any unfortunate incidents. Below are some tips to keep you and your family safe in the kitchen over the holidays.

• If you are cooking with hot oil, have a lid nearby in case there is a fire. If you have a fire extinguisher, remember that it only works on small fires and that you should never use water on a grease fire since it can spread the flames.
• Always be careful while using knives and other sharp objects when chopping or preparing ingredients.
• Avoid cutting yourself while slicing holiday goodies.
• Maintain a clean workspace, keep things organized, and always remember to be cautious while cooking to prevent accidents or injuries during your upcoming holiday meal.
• Keep the kitchen well lit.
• Wear non-slip shoes or sandals in the kitchen to prevent falls.
• Use pot holders to handle hot pots and pans.
• Cooking appliances should be adequately grounded and plugged directly into an electrical outlet, not an extension cord. Do not use stoves with frayed cords, loose connections, or damaged parts.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• When cooking with the stove, do not allow children to play near the kitchen or climb on chairs. Also, keep lighters out of reach of children.
• Cooking spray is flammable, so make sure you are not near any open flames before spraying it into a pan.

Safety tips while Lighting Fireworks

Fireworks can be hazardous. If you are interested in setting off fireworks, you should do so only if they are legal in your area. Even if you are using them legally, it is essential to remember that there are many ways to injure yourself while setting off fireworks, so make sure you take proper precautions.

• Never go closer than 500 feet to where the fireworks are being set off because you could get seriously hurt by an errant firework. Also, wear earplugs and eye protection when you watch fireworks displays because the noise can damage your hearing, and the light can damage your eyesight.
• When you set off fireworks on your property, make sure that you wear proper safety equipment, including water-resistant clothing, heavy shoes to protect your feet from burns, sunglasses to protect your eyes from debris, and thick gloves to protect your hands from burns. It is also a good idea to have a bucket of water close at hand if a fire starts accidentally.

Seek Legal Counsel from a Dedicated Holiday Injury Lawyer

You’ve invested time and energy into making your holidays memorable. You deserve to relax and enjoy the festivities. During this time, people gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. Restaurants often offer special menus and discounts, and businesses keep late hours and open on Sundays for shoppers. But even during the holidays, accidents can happen: slips and falls, car wrecks, fires, and more can cause devastating injuries or wrongful death.

Should you experience any holiday injury, let us take care of legal matters for you. Featuring a team of highly skilled and experienced personal injury attorneys, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is committed to helping you and your loved ones. With that said, if you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence this holiday season, contact us online or Call us at (833) 254-2923, for a free consultation.