Holidays are supposed to be filled with good tidings for comfort and joy. Sometimes, though, they can be filled with trips to the emergency room for treatment from holiday injuries. No one likes to think about getting hurt during the holidays, but it can happen when people engage in careless or negligent behavior.

Instead of spending time with family and friends, you can find yourself the victim in a personal injury claim. Holiday activities like decorating the exterior of your house and enjoying a family ski trip come with the risk of accidents and injuries.

Learn about some of the most common causes of personal injuries during the holidays, and what you can do to secure fair compensation if you fall victim this holiday season.

Common personal injury #1 – burns

Holidays mean spending time with family and friends. Most of the time, these get-togethers involve food. Burns from cooking accidents are one of the most common personal injuries during the holidays. Whether you’re deep-frying a turkey or retrieving roasted chestnuts from an open fire, the potential for serious burns exists.

It’s not always the host who ends up getting burned. If you’re a guest at someone’s home and you suffer burns because of improperly maintained firepits or fireplaces, you have a right to seek fair compensation for your injuries.

Common personal injury #2 – falls (and slips)

‘Tis the season for slips and falls. Sometimes these kinds of holiday accidents are because of your own carelessness. Maybe you climbed up a ladder to hang Christmas lights without someone there to help you and suffered a fall. It happens.

However, there are times when you can get seriously hurt on someone else’s property because they failed to properly maintain it during icy and snowy conditions. Icy driveways, sidewalks, and other walkways lead to roughly 3 million slip and fall injuries each year. You have rights if your holiday get-together is ruined because of your host’s poorly-maintained property.

Common personal injury #3 – respiratory injuries

Wintertime is a popular time for indoor fires. Who doesn’t enjoy sitting by a warm fire – natural wood or natural gas – while sipping a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows and snacking on some holiday cookies?

That picturesque holiday scene quickly can turn into a respiratory injury if the fireplace is improperly configured or otherwise malfunctioning. Carbon monoxide inhalation causes more than 50,000 visits to the emergency room each year in the U.S. If you end up listed among the statistics, follow up with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your rights.

Common personal injury #4 – traffic accidents

Families travel during the holidays. Whether that’s just down the road to grandma’s house, or three states away for a holiday ski trip with your immediate loved ones, chances are you’ll be among the 109 million Americans traveling this holiday season.

All it takes is one careless driver to cause life-threatening injuries. You or your loved ones can suffer temporary or permanent disability – even death – if you encounter the wrong drivers during your holiday travels.

Car accident victims have a right to file personal injury claims in New Mexico. You have up to three years from the date of the accident to pursue fair compensation for your injuries.

Common personal injury #5 – winter sports accidents

Skating, skiing, sledding, snowboarding, and snowmobiling are just a few of the winter sports people enjoy together during the holidays. It can be easy to get injured doing any of these activities if you end up the unsuspecting recipient of faulty equipment.

If you end up hurt because of third-party negligence, you should speak with a personal injury attorney right away. They can help you secure fair compensation for your injuries.

Seek help for holiday personal injury claims

When you’re injured through no fault of your own during the holidays, it’s important to protect your rights. You’re not required to speak with attorneys or insurance companies representing the at-fault party. Never agree to a settlement without first consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Bill Russell vigorously defends the rights of personal injury victims in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. Schedule a free case evaluation with him to review your personal injury case today.