Thanksgiving will soon be here. After the difficult past 18 months we have weathered, many of us will be even more thankful than usual to celebrate with friends and family once again. As we enter this period of joy and merriment, we need to remember to continue to keep our guard up against personal injuries. Two of the most common personal injuries during the holiday season are car accidents and slip and fall injuries.

Car Accidents

According to a study by Progressive Insurance, there is a spike in car accidents during the week of Thanksgiving. The company looked at claims data from the two weeks before and after Thanksgiving and compared it to the week of Thanksgiving. Following are their findings:

  • Accidents the Wednesday before Thanksgiving increased 25%.
  • Accidents on Thanksgiving evening increased 20%.
  • Accidents on Black Friday increased 34%.

To help prevent being in a car accident over Thanksgiving:

  • Never drink and drive. If you are planning to drink during the holiday, take a cab, a ride-hailing service, public transportation, or arrange for a designated driver.
  • Allow plenty of space between you and car in front of you. Tailgating won’t help you arrive home sooner and it may cause an accident.
  • Before backing out of a parking spot, always check your rear and sideview mirrors. If your car has a backup camera, check that too. Pedestrians or other drivers may be oblivious to you trying to exit your parking space.

    • Slip and Fall Injuries

    With the holiday sales in full swing, the stores are packed, and slip and fall injuries are a risk. Slip and fall injuries can be caused by:

    • Uneven flooring – such as a pothole in a parking lot, missing floor tiles, bunched up carpeting, or peeling floor signs
    • Wet, slick floors – such as from a spilled drink or freshly mopped floor
    • Debris – with so many shoppers in stores, especially on Black Friday, items may fall from the shelves onto the floors and cause a tripping hazard.

    Many slips and falls can lead to broken bones, soft tissue injuries, hip fractures, shoulder or neck injuries or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls are the leading cause of TBIs.

    To help minimize the likelihood of slipping and falling:

    • Don’t rush – make sure to watch for fallen merchandise in aisles or wet spots on the floor.
    • Focus on the store, not your cellphone, as you walk around the store to minimize distractions.
    • If you are in a parking lot or other area with poor lighting, watch for potholes or debris on the ground.

    The attorneys at Rader Law Group wish you a safe, enjoyable, and injury-free holiday season!

    Rader Law Group, LLC

    With decades and decades combined experience, the attorneys at Rader Law Group understand the meaning of Justice. Our one and only mission is to get each client the justice he or she deserves; our team of attorneys never back down when we know our client is right.
    We offer our clients the compassion and guidance they need as they work through trying times in their lives. The balance of working relentlessly for our clients combined with our caring approach has helped us achieve a fantastic record of success with our clients. We get our clients the justice they deserve.

    At Rader Law Group, You matter. Your justice matters. Your Justice Starts Here. 954-913-2273.

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