Christmas Injuries

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time with lights, laughter, singing, and other activities associated with the festive occasion. But sometimes this joy is interrupted by injuries. At Springer & Lyle, we are aware that when someone is hurt, especially at Christmas time, the injury may have a greater impact than one occurring at another time of the year.

Most Common Types of Christmas Injuries

Injuries range from a simple paper cut from wrapping paper to electrocution or fires from defective Christmas lights or electrical outlets. Significant injuries have also resulted from work performed by light installation companies. In some cases, the splicing or connecting of the light strands have created sparks causing fires and injuries.

The Journal, EHS Today (education, health, and safety) evaluated data provided by different organizations for accidents that occurred over the Christmas holidays in 2016. Some of the most common injuries they discovered include:

• More than one third of all injuries involved Christmas lights. This includes electrical shocks, fires, trips and falls off a ladder while hanging the lights. In New Hampshire in 2016, a man was electrocuted when hanging outdoor lights. He accidently hit a power line with a metal pole and was zapped with 20,000 volts of electricity. He fell to the ground, was rushed to the hospital and treated for burns and unknown internal injuries.

• Falling from a ladder was the second most common cause of accidents. Falling off an object, like a stool, that was used instead of a ladder, caused a number of injuries. Other slip, trips, and falls were included in this category, such as trips over debris from wrapping paper, trash bags, and over lights and Christmas presents.

• Many people are cut by broken Christmas ornaments. Some so severely they need medical treatment. Others are injured when they use a knife to help open a Christmas package.

• People were injured when they were dancing at a Christmas party. Many were injured when they twisted their knee and others hurt when they fell.

• Use of power tools caused injuries when the power tool either failed to work properly or was not used correctly.

As to the body parts that were injured, 15 percent of people injured their lower back, likely due to lifting heavy objects. Another 13 percent suffered cuts on their hand and 12 percent received bumps on their heads.

If you were injured in a holiday accident due to the fault of another person, company or a defective product, the personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you obtain the reasonable compensation you may be entitled for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.