In spite of the stress involved in shopping for gifts, preparing festive food and hanging decorations, most people look forward to Christmas. Meeting up with family and friends and taking a step back from our regular lives can be very refreshing, and provide a great distraction from the bleakness of a cold, wet winter. But some festive events do present different challenges and potential dangers, and it’s sensible to be prepared for potential Christmas safety hazards.

If you do suffer an injury at Christmas which was someone else’s fault, you may need to seek compensation for your losses, and personal injury lawyers can help you to do that. Read on to find out some of the main Christmas safety hazards and when you might need to find a personal injury lawyer to help you gain compensation for your injuries.

1. Slippery and icy roads

If you’re lucky enough to enjoy a white Christmas, you may also be plagued by slippery or icy roads and pavements when all that snow starts to melt. This is one of the main hazards around Christmas time and something you need to be careful about. In public areas, pavements and roads should be treated to prevent injuries from occurring, and if you do become injured because someone has failed to look after your safety by properly treating a slippery surface then you may be able to gain compensation.

2. Drinking too much alcohol

With all the parties and merry-making, drinking too much at Christmas is a potential hazard. If you are driving anywhere after a party then it is best not to drink at all, and even if you are not driving then being careful about the amount of alcohol you consume is advisable to prevent illness or injury. If you are involved in an accident after drinking alcohol, it is much less likely that a personal injury lawyer will be able to help you gain compensation, as the accident may be put down to your drinking rather than another person’s failure in their duty of care towards you.

3. Tiredness

Taking the kids to their nativity dress rehearsal, trudging round endless shopping malls looking for just the right gift for aunty Flo and a few late nights in a row can all add up, meaning Christmas tiredness can be a real safety hazard. Make sure you look after yourself during the Christmas season or you could end up with much more than a bit of sleep deprivation. Particularly if you are driving or looking after children, make sure you are properly rested so that you are alert to any potential hazards before they lead to accidents.

4. Darkness

In the middle of winter, lighting is particularly important to prevent accidents such as slips and trips, as well as preventing accidents on the road. This is one area in which a lack of lighting in a public area such as a workplace or high street could be considered hazardous and potentially lead to injuries. Always be more careful when lighting is dim and if you do injure yourself because of poor lighting due to someone’s negligence, consider contacting a personal injury lawyer who could win compensation on your behalf.

Author Bio: National Accident Helpline has a network of specialist personal injury lawyers all over the UK. The company has been helping members of the public make successful compensation claims for over 17 years.

Category: Recreation
Keywords: christmas safety,christmas safety advice,personal injury lawyers,christmas safety hazards