One of the most festive parts of the holidays is the decorations families put up to celebrate the season. For many people, putting up decorations is their favorite part of the holidays. Many families have unique decorating traditions that bring loved ones together to celebrate and connect. Unfortunately, holiday decorating can sometimes be dangerous as well as fun. The Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) estimates that there are approximately 200 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season.
Accidents happen, but if you suffered injuries during the holiday season because of a defective product, you may have the right to seek financial damages. If you believe your holiday decorating accident happened because of a defective product, call a Maryland personal injury attorney today.
How to Avoid Common Decorating Injuries
Below is a list of the most common types of holiday decorating injuries and information on how to avoid them.
- Ladder falls – Many people hang holiday lights or wreaths on the exterior of their house or in other high places using a ladder. According to the CPSC, 38 percent of all holiday decorating accidents involved a person falling while decorating. In 2016, two people died from falling off a ladder while decorating. You should take extra care when climbing a ladder to hang decorations, make sure to take your time, and avoid climbing to great heights if possible. Also, make sure that your ladder is sturdy and that you have another person nearby to steady the ladder if need be.
- Tree fires – Christmas trees are a beloved holiday symbol, but they may also be a fire hazard. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there are about 200 house fires each year that are caused by Christmas trees. If you are buying a live Christmas tree, make sure that the tree is fresh as older trees are more likely to catch fire. A good way to test this is to make sure the needles are green and do not break when you bend them. Make sure to water a live tree frequently to preserve freshness. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it has a label that says “Fire Resistant” because this means that it is more difficult for the tree to catch fire. Do not put your tree near heat sources like fireplaces or radiators.
- Holiday lights – Make sure that each set of lights you use have been safety tested and do not have frayed or loose wires. It is important that the lights you hang outdoors are certified for outdoor use and undamaged. You should carefully read instructions for all light decorations to prevent electrical injuries or fires.
What to Do If You Suffer Injuries in a Holiday Decorating Accident?
If injuries occurred while decorating for the holidays and you believe it was because of a defective or unsafe product, you may have grounds for a product liability case. It is important that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact Alpert Schreyer today at 301-381-2655 or online to schedule a free case evaluation.