Most Common Thanksgiving Injuries and How You Can Avoid Them

The annual Thanksgiving Day tradition gathering around loved ones and reflecting on our blessings may just be one of our best. It’s a day that ought to be spent celebrating family and togetherness. However, accidents and injuries on Thanksgiving Day can spoil the holiday atmosphere.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there were over 38,000 people who went to the emergency room that day in 2019. Worse, the National Safety Council estimates that around 485 motor vehicle fatalities happened in 2020. In the spirit of fostering a safe and happy holiday, Baker Legal Team would like to raise some awareness on the most common injuries to happen on Thanksgiving.

What are the Most Common Thanksgiving Day Accidents?

The holidays can be stressful. Accidents can happen if not careful, from rushing to get the thanksgiving meal prepared to juggling family and friends. While getting ready for Turkey Day, the following tips may help you and your loved ones avoid some of the most common Thanksgiving injuries:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

While the NSC 2020 number is an estimate, 385 confirmed deaths in 2018 between the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving Day. That was over 11% of the total number of motor vehicle deaths in November 2018.

The most common causes of motor vehicle accidents on Thanksgiving are caused by drowsy drivers and driving drunk. Common injuries suffered by motor vehicle accidents include:

Head injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Back, neck, or spine injuries
Paralysis
Crushed limbs
Burns
Death

Cooking Accidents

Families should take extreme caution when cooking holiday meals such as deep-fried turkeys. Turkey fryer fires are devastating and can cost more than $15 million in property damage every year, let alone deaths and injuries. Accidents happen in the kitchen, such as pots and pans being bumped and scalding people.

Turkey Fryers: Do not operate them inside a garage and keep them at least 15 feet from the home. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and patted down before submerging it into the fryer because any water or ice will cause the super-heated oil to explode. You should wear a pair of safety goggles and pot holders when handling the fryer. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case.
In the Kitchen: Only wear tight-fitting clothes when cooking in the kitchen. Additionally, move all handles inward towards the stovetop. Double-check the cooking time and temperature of the turkey to prevent food poisoning. Lastly, make sure to sharpen the carving knife a week or two before Thanksgiving because a sharpened blade can prevent accidents.

Slips and Falls

A slip and fall may not seem serious but can cause severe injuries like head or back injuries. Some common causes of Thanksgiving slip and falls include:

Icy conditions outside
Grabbing last-minute ingredients
Playing a pre-dinner game of football
Mad-dashing on Black Friday for sales

To prevent this type of accident and any injuries, make sure in the kitchen and in stores to wear shoes with a good rubber sole and plenty of support to prevent slippage. Try to shop during non-peak hours early in the morning or late at night to avoid large crowds.

Get Help From an Experienced Florida Personal Injury Lawyer

The emotional and physical pain of an injury can feel worse when the incident occurs on a holiday. To get help with your personal injury claim, you deserve nothing less than experienced and professional legal counsel.

With over 30 years of experience, attorney Robert Baker and his team will guide you through the legal process. The legal process is complicated and detailed, and it’s easy to make a mistake that will get your case dismissed for good if you try to do this yourself. With Robert Baker’s team, due diligence and legal expertise may ensure your personal injury claims are taken seriously and get you the help that you need. To set up a free consultation, call (561) 599-5568 or complete a contact form to schedule a free consultation.