The Most Common Thanksgiving Accidents and Injuries

Most individuals are off work over the holiday weekend, which can lead to crowds in supermarkets and on roads, potentially contributing to various incidents and accidents.

Car Collisions

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods, if not the busiest period of the entire year. Chances of getting involved in a car accident increase with so many cars on US roads. Many drivers eager to reach their destination or to collect last-minute items from the grocery store may be rushing, further increasing the risk of accidents.
During the holiday, we tend to consume more alcohol which can result in more drunk drivers on the roads. Moreover, in some areas, Thanksgiving weather coincides with wintry weather and icy roads, further contributing to crashes.

The safest way to get through the Thanksgiving holiday may be to avoid the car. However, if you travel, avoid peak hours and leave plenty of time to reach your destination.

Fires and Cooking Accidents

We spend hours in the kitchen at Thanksgiving, especially when hosting family and friends. However, cooking accidents can be common during the Thanksgiving holiday when we may dust off electric appliances that we did not use all year, such as turkey fryers. The dangers of turkey fryers include:

• Hot oil spilling from the fryer onto the burner and causing a fire
• Overheating and combusting due to missing automatic thermostat
• Turkey fryers tipping and spilling oil over those close-by
• Hot lids and handles causing burn injuries

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends not using turkey fryers, as they present a significant fire hazard. If you must use a fryer, you will be safer doing so outside rather than inside your home.

However, even if you are not using a turkey fryer, defective ovens, forgetting to switch off the stove, or misusing appliances can make the kitchen a dangerous place during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Slips and Falls

While those who choose to have Thanksgiving dinner in restaurants may be safe from cooking accidents or fires at home, they could face other dangers. Grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers can be jam-packed with customers during the holiday weekend. Store and restaurant employees may be overworked, with little time to keep floors clean of food debris and spillages, potentially causing hazardous conditions for patrons who could slip and fall.

The best way to avoid slip and fall injuries this Thanksgiving is to remain vigilant of spillages and wet floors in grocery stores and restaurants. However, if you fall and suffer an injury due to a hazardous condition in a store or restaurant, you could hold the business owner or operator to account and recover compensation. Businesses must keep customers reasonably safe, even during crowded and busy periods. If you or a loved one experience an accident or injury over Thanksgiving and want to learn about your legal options, Morgan & Morgan is here for you.

Airport Accidents

Like the roads, the airports will be packed with holiday-makers heading off to their Thanksgiving destinations. Busy airports entail restaurant crowds, rushing passengers, and increased vehicle traffic outside terminals. Thanksgiving accidents and injuries can be common in overcrowded airport terminals and food courts. Airport passengers and workers may experience injuries due to:

• Motor vehicle accidents outside terminals and in parking garages
• Slips and falls due to slippery floors, clutter, and food debris
• Airport shuttle accidents
• Defective elevators and escalators
• Slippery boarding ramps and walkways
• Objects falling out of airplane overhead lockers
• Violent crimes such as attacks or assaults

If you want to hold a public airport authority or airline responsible for your injuries and financial losses, consider getting an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Morgan & Morgan knows how to handle complex injury claims and can hold airlines or government agencies accountable.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be common during the Thanksgiving holiday. Reasons for food poisoning can include:

• Eating contaminated foods
• Improper hygiene after handling raw turkey
• Eating food past its “use by” date
• Leaving leftovers out at room temperature for too long
• Improperly thawing and reheating foods
• Undercooking meat
• Eating food that was handled by someone who is ill

Many foods and treats we enjoy at Thanksgiving, such as turkey, deli meats, shellfish, and soft cheeses, can be prone to contamination with dangerous bacteria. Even if you are not cooking at home and plan to eat out at a restaurant, you could be at risk of food poisoning due to a lack of restaurant hygiene or inexperienced staff.

Restaurants are legally obliged to serve you safe food. If you or a loved one suffered from serious food poisoning or other severe conditions due to eating contaminated foods, you could have legal recourse and sue the restaurant.

Injuries will depend on the type of accident, whether a car crash, fall, or another incident. However, common injuries in Thanksgiving accidents can include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Whiplash
• Burns and scalds
• Broken bones
• Dislocations
• Slipped discs and other back injuries
• Strains and sprains
• Internal injuries

One thing that most significant Thanksgiving injuries have in common is the expenses that victims may face, such as medical bills, wage losses, and out-of-pocket costs. However, if another is responsible, you should not have to pay for their mistake. Our attorneys can assess your accident and, if you qualify, file a compensation claim on your behalf.

The physical, emotional, and financial implications of a significant or life-changing injury can derail your life. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident on Thanksgiving weekend, consult with an injury attorney to determine your legal options. If someone else is responsible, such as a reckless driver or negligent business owner, you could have a personal injury claim and recover compensation. Depending on your specific case, you could receive the following damages, among others:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses to treat your injury
• Lost wages and loss of future earnings
• Repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed property
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability

As with any injury, your priority should be your health and well-being. Therefore, seek medical advice after a car crash or slip and fall, even if you feel fine or have only minor symptoms. A doctor can diagnose any underlying conditions and ensure that you receive prompt treatment. Seeing a medical provider will also document your injuries which is critical to recovering compensation. Taking the following actions can help to protect your legal rights:

• Record the accident scene with photos and videos
• As witnesses for contact details
• In a car accident, gather the contact details and insurance information from all involved drivers
• Contact a personal injury lawyer for legal advice

The time for filing a personal injury claim may be limited, depending on your state. Therefore, seeking legal advice as soon as possible after your Thanksgiving accident and injury can be vital for recovering a fair settlement.

Whether you have any upfront legal expenses or attorney’s fees to pay will depend on the law firm you are working with, as fees can vary. Some lawyers do not charge upfront fees but will ask you to pay for legal costs up front, such as the court filing fee and other miscellaneous expenses.

When Morgan & Morgan takes your case, you don’t pay a dime upfront. We can handle your claim for free unless and until we win and you receive compensation. We want injured victims to have the best possible legal representation and the best chance to receive the compensation they deserve, regardless of their financial situation.

Knowing your legal options and rights can be critical for recovering what you deserve after suffering an injury at Thanksgiving. An attorney from our firm can get to work immediately, protect your legal rights, and determine who is liable for your accident. We can also:

• Help you get medical assistance
• Gather time-sensitive evidence to prove your claim
• Communicate and negotiate with the responsible insurance company
• Identify your present expenses and estimate your future damages to determine the total worth of your claim
• Represent you aggressively at trial
• Fight for maximum compensation

Handling an injury claim alone can be stressful and overwhelming. In contrast, with America’s largest personal injury firm in your corner, you can relax and recover from your injuries while we handle all legal aspects and fight hard for your rights. Whether your Thanksgiving injury claim is resolved out of court or at trial, a tenacious attorney can help to maximize your recovery.

In most states, injured victims can receive compensation even if they have some responsibility for the accident. However, the settlement amount you can recover is typically reduced by your degree of fault.

If you are partly to blame for your Thanksgiving accident, you should seek legal advice immediately, as such complex claims can be challenging to win. The other side’s legal counsel may try to blame you for causing the accident or assign an unfairly high degree of fault to you, potentially leaving you unable to recover adequate compensation.

Every personal injury case is unique. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how long your claim might take. However, most personal injury claims are resolved out of court, which can be considerably quicker than going to trial. If all parties agree to a settlement, you could receive a settlement check in a few weeks. However, if an insurance company or the at-fault party refuses to agree to a settlement, settlement negotiations could drag on for months.
In most cases, hiring an attorney who can devote themselves to your case can help with getting to a faster resolution. However, patience can pay off.  If you have to fight your claim at trial, it might take longer to receive a settlement, but you could maximize your compensation.

Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and enjoy time with your nearest and dearest. Getting injured or sick during a long-anticipated holiday can feel particularly frustrating and upsetting. Morgan & Morgan understands the impact of a severe Thanksgiving accident and injury on your health and finances. You deserve nothing less than the best legal representation. While we cannot make you healthy again or turn back the time, we could help you to recover compensation that can pay for your injury-related expenses and help you get your life back on track.

Morgan & Morgan wants you to win. In your most difficult times, we are here for you 24/7. Get started now and get in touch for a free case evaluation.