Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the holiday season is in full swing. It is a time to be with family and friends, to celebrate the joy of the season, to overstuff yourself (again) with delicious food – in short, a time to celebrate. Unfortunately, the holiday season poses some serious hazards on and off the roads.

At Banks & Jones, we want you to have a safe and happy holiday. We’ve compiled this list of potential dangers to be aware of, so you can keep yourself and your loves ones safe this year:

• Auto accidents. People travel a lot during the holidays, so expect to see more cars on the road – and impatient drivers behind the wheels. Keep to the speed limit and leave plenty of extra time to avoid auto accident this season. And if you drink, don’t drive. Stay where you are, call an Uber or designate a driver ahead of time.
• Overconsuming. The urge to eat as much of the Christmas ham as possible can be pretty strong, but overeating can be dangerous in the short and long term. You increase your risk of choking when you shovel food in, and too many glasses of egg nog can lead to a DUI. Cut back on the cookies and stick to water if you want to be safe.
• Kitchen fires and burns. The United States Fire Administration assert that at least 4,000 blazes erupt on Thanksgiving alone. Those same risks are present during any holiday feast – and too many people in the kitchen can distract the cook. One misplaced tea towel can cause a blaze, and jostling the dishes can lead to burn injuries.
• Illness. No one likes to be sick, but viruses like the flu, and illnesses like the common cold, will spread more easily in crowded places. Avoid the company holiday party this year if you’re feeling under the weather, and try to get as much rest as you can. Holidays can be stressful, and what started as a cough can turn into pneumonia if you push yourself too hard.

Use your common sense and follow the above safety tips, and you likely will have a non-hazardous holiday – the best kind of holiday there is.

But if you are injured, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. For more information, contact the Knoxville auto accident and personal injury attorneys at Banks & Jones. You can call us at 865-546-2141, or contact us through our form. We are proud to represent injury victims in Knoxville and throughout Tennessee.