Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get together with family and share plenty of good food. Injury-causing accidents are unfortunately common this time of year, from motor vehicle crashes to cooking-related mishaps.
That’s why the Phoenix personal injury lawyerstaff at Lerner & Rowe offer the following tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe over the holidays:
Holiday travel safety
1. Pack and take an emergency kit. Preparation is key prior to hitting the road. The following are suggested items to have in your vehicle in care of an emergency:
- flashlight
- flares or a red flag
- jumper cables
- first aid kit.
Also, put a quart or two of oil and some coolant in your trunk. If you’ll be traveling to a colder part of the country make sure to pack blankets, gloves and coats.
2. Prepare your car. Have your car checked by your mechanic before starting on your trip. Make sure the following are in good shape:
- tire pressure
- windshield wipers
- fluid levels
- belts
- brakes
3. Time your trip. Many cars are hitting the road on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward. If you can, time your departure and return outside of these days so the roads will be less congested.
4. Stay alert and sober. Driving while you’re drowsy, impaired or distracted increases the chance that you’ll be in an accident. Try to share driving duties with another adult on the trip so you’ll both stay alert. And avoid distractions by putting a passenger in charge of checking the phone, GPS or other tasks.
5. Buckle up. It is the law in Arizona for you to wear your seat belt when you’re behind the wheel and to ensure that other passengers do so too. Also, make sure that any children are in the proper car seat for their age, height and weight.
6. Watch weather reports. Check weather reports before you leave so you can avoid hazardous conditions if possible. Along the way, ask a passenger to monitor a weather app so you’ll be aware any issues that pop up along the way.
Home safety during the Thanksgiving holidays
1. Use a fireplace screen. If you’re using your indoor fireplace or an outdoor fire pit, check to make sure it’s protected by a sturdy screen so embers can’t escape and start a fire. Also, be cautious with screens since they can take a long time to cool down and touching them while hot can result in a burn injury.
2. Fry carefully. If you’re frying a turkey, keep your fryer at least 10 feet away from your house and place it on flat, level ground. When you put your turkey in, it should be completely thawed and dry to reduce the chance of oil bubbling over onto the burner and potentially causing a fire. You will also want to make sure that the fryer is not left unattended and kept away from children and pets. Place a multipurpose, dry-powder fire extinguisher nearby in case the oil does ignite.
3. Kitchen safety. Don’t place pot holders, kitchen towels and other items that could catch fire on or near your stove top. You will also want to make sure that you turn pot handles so they’re facing the rear of the stove. Otherwise, they could be knocked over and their contents could scald someone such as curious toddlers.
Additionally, keep eager young helpers away from hot ovens and pans to avoid burn injuries and away from sharp objects to avoid cuts.
4. Pets & house guests. If your four-legged family member does not like to socialize with adults and/or children keep them in their own space away from guests. In reverse, if you are at another person’s house keep an eye on any pets that may seem more aggressive to reduce the chance of a bite.
Get help from a Phoenix personal injury lawyer
If you or a loved one has endured pain over the holidays due to someone else’s negligence, contact the compassionate Phoenix personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. The law firm goes above and beyond to meet the needs of clients and to ensure case outcomes are in their favor.
The law firm offers free consultations and does not charge any fees unless you win compensation for your case. Receive dedicated counsel day or night, 365 days a year by calling (602) 977-1900 or via a convenient LiveChatfeature at lernerandrowe.com.
