Ready or not, the holidays are officially here. For many of us, this means gift buying, holiday parties, and an extremely busy time of the year. Unfortunately, the bustling holiday season can be quite dangerous for both the young and old. Whether you are sticking around for the holidays are heading across the state, country, or globe to spend time with loved ones, it’s imperative you do what you can to protect yourself and others.
It is estimated that more than 200 million people spend their holidays driving to the homes of loved ones, which is just one of the reasons why we see an increase in accidents this time of year. Furthermore, burglaries are more likely and people often fall victim to preventable holiday accidents. With that in mind, here are six tips to help ensure your holiday season is a safe and happy one:
- Plan ahead when traveling – If you are going to be traveling for the holidays, it is important that you plan ahead. Depending on where you are going, there’s a good chance you will be met with inclement weather, which can throw a wrench in your holiday plans. Map your route, estimate your time of arrival, and always share your plans with at least one or two other people.
- Don’t overshare on social media – As we mentioned, burglaries increase during the holidays. This is why it is important you don’t tell too many people when you are going out of town. Don’t post it on the internet and NEVER share details of your home address.
- Be aware of your surroundings – This is true no matter where you are going and what your holiday plans are. Always have your head up (not looking down at your phone) when out running errands, shopping, and getting in and out of your car. If you are driving, keep your eyes on the road and distractions away.
- Prevent decoration accidents – If you are putting up holiday lights or a Christmas tree this year, use extra precaution. Christmas tree fires are all-too-common and can cause irreparable damage. When putting up lights, accidents – such as falls and electrocutions – are also a regular occurrence. Make sure your tree has water every night and you don’t leave the lights on the tree all night. Have a spotter if you are decorating your house with lights, and do your best to avoid this dangerous task after dark.
- Dispose of holiday boxes appropriately – After all the festivities, make sure you are creatively and properly disposing of gift boxes. Unfortunately, criminals have been known to scope out people’s trash bins to see what kind of goodies they got over the holidays. Break down boxes and don’t get rid of everything at once. With this, make sure nothing you are throwing away is dangerous and could cause a fire (such as old electronics).
At Wormington & Bollinger, we are dedicated to keeping our clients safe. However, if you are involved in an unfortunate accident this holiday season, please give us a call and schedule a free consultation. Our McKinney personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers have your best interests in mind and will do everything we can to ensure justice is served.