Christmas is just around the corner, which means that many families across the country will be preparing for the festive holidays, going to stores to buy gifts, and looking forward to spending more time with their loved ones.
Unfortunately, the holidays are not a joyous occasion for everyone. In fact, figures from the Southeastern Sydney Local Health District revealed that regional hospitals experience a 40 percent increase in the number of injuries requiring hospitalization over the Christmas period. Dr. Peter Grant, a senior specialist on the emergency department staff at St George Hospital, said there are several reasons why more accidents happen at Christmas.
“For every death on the road, there are at least ten times as many people left with significant injuries.”
Speaking in December 2014, Dr. Grant stated: “This year, we treated children who have suffered injuries due to accidents involving skateboards, bicycles and Christmas toys; and elderly patients who suffer falls or other mishaps in the unfamiliar surroundings of the their relatives’ houses. “
People who are injured during the holiday season may be entitled to compensation, depending on the circumstances of their accident. But what types of payments are available? Here are some of the top reasons people can contact injury compensation attorneys at Christmas.
1. Car accidents
Motor vehicle collisions are more frequent on vacation, with alcohol consumption and regular travel being the main contributing factors. Drunk drivers are unlikely to receive compensation for a car accident, but other road users may be eligible if they are involved in an incident.
Data from the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) showed that Australians collectively suffered 2,500 serious injuries on the country’s roads during the Christmas and New Years period in 2014-15.
“For every death on the road, there are at least 10 times as many people left with major injuries and 50 times as many with minor injuries that still interfere with daily life,” said Dr. Aitken, EMF President and Emergency Specialist .
Car accidents happen most often during the holiday season.
2. Work accidents
Christmas is a time of giving and forecasts suggest that people intend to be particularly generous this year. The Australian Retail Association and Roy Morgan Research predicted that holiday spending will reach $ 46.7 billion in retail stores between November 15 and December 24, up 3.6% from 2014.
However, accidents can happen when businesses rush to meet the Christmas demand. Last month’s Black Friday sales have already shown how dangerous stores can be when consumers flock to fight for the best deals. Staff members who are injured while performing their work may be entitled to workers’ compensation, which can cover lost wages, medical expenses, and a variety of other costs.
3. Slip and fall
The number of people who shopped in physical stores increased 4.1 percent year-over-year in September, according to data from the National Australia Bank. While this growth was less than the 5.7% annual jump in online retail, the figures indicate that Australians still love to shop for gifts the old fashioned way.
Experienced injury compensation attorneys can provide expert advice on the likelihood of a claim being successful.
With bustling Christmas crowds filling stores to the point of exploding, the chance of a slip, trip or fall could increase. Whether it’s an unattended beverage spill, checkout in store aisles, or various other hazards, busy stores can lead to injuries in many ways.
Claimants who show that they were owed a duty of care while in a public place may receive compensation if they can also show that this obligation was violated.
Make a claim
These are just three examples of cases where people may be entitled to a payment due to an injury sustained during Christmas celebrations. However, there are many other situations in which compensation is appropriate.