Personal Injury Claims at Christmas

20/12/2023

Christmas is a magical time. However, the festive season also frequently witnesses a spike in personal injury claims.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), more than 80,000 people go to A&E each year for Christmas-related accidents, and over 6,000 of these need to be admitted. Bad weather, decorations, fires, alcohol, and houses packed with over-excited children and extra visitors mean many potential hazards.

In this blog, our Personal Injury specialists highlight some of the added dangers of the festive period and reveal what you should do if an accident happens.

1. Trips and slips.

Tripping or slipping can be common occurrences in public places, with people particularly susceptible to falls during the winter months. Bad weather, such as ice or heavy rain, means that pavements and shop floors can become slippery, and conditions can become even more treacherous when high streets are overcrowded. 

Business owners and councils are responsible for ensuring adequate measures are put in place to reduce the risk of accidents while you are on their premises. If they don’t adhere to strict health and safety guidelines set out by the government, and you incur an injury because of it, they can be held liable for negligence. 

2. Road traffic accidents (RTAs).

The number of RTAs in England and Wales increases over the festive season for various reasons. These include:

• More traffic. More people travel over the Christmas holidays than any other time of the year, meaning the roads are much busier, and there is a higher probability of a crash.
• Longer trips. Many people undertake long journeys at Christmas to visit their families and loved ones. This means a heavier reliance on sat-navs, which can result in drivers becoming distracted, and a higher likelihood of them becoming tired, reducing reaction times.
• Driving conditions. Snow, ice, rain, and high winds make driving much more difficult. Reduced visibility caused by bad weather and dark nights increases the possibility of more accidents.
• Drink driving. The seasonal period sees the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol almost double. Drink driving significantly impairs a driver’s ability and threatens their own safety and that of all other road users. 

Road traffic accidents can be devastating and have significant consequences. If you are a driver or passenger and have been involved in an accident on the road, or a cyclist or pedestrian that a motorist has hit, you could be entitled to compensation.

At Russell & Russell, we offer a free, no-obligation assessment of your case, where we will advise you of your chances of success. To speak to one of our experienced team, call us today on 0800 731 7555 or make an online enquiry.

3. Defective products.

Exchanging gifts at Christmas is commonplace, and we expect the products we buy to be in a good and safe condition. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

If you suffer an injury from a defective product or something that you buy causes damage, you might be entitled to compensation under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Any faulty product has the potential to cause serious harm. For example, unsafe electrical equipment can result in fires, burns and electric shocks, contaminated food can lead to food poisoning, and defective cosmetics can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation.

Our defective product and product liability solicitors at Russell & Russell are specialists in recovering compensation from retailers and manufacturers, from foods to furniture, electrical goods, prescription drugs and faulty medical devices.

This area of law can be complex and time-consuming, so it’s essential to get sound legal advice to guide you through the maze of legislation. If you’ve been affected by a defective product and want to know where you stand legally, call us on 0800 731 7555 to discuss your situation.

4. Occupiers’ liability cases.

If you suffer an accident in a building or on land owned by someone else, you might be able to make an occupiers’ liability personal injury claim.

This could include falling from a table or a chair while putting up Christmas decorations or slipping downstairs at a Christmas party.

Occupier's liability outlines the duty of care a person who occupies certain premises owes to those who visit it. This means that an occupier must take reasonable care to ensure visitors are kept safe when using the premises for the reasons they should be there for. 

If an occupier fails to carry out this legal obligation of care and you suffer from an injury because of it, you may have a personal injury claim against them and be entitled to compensation.

Personal Injury Solicitors

If you have been involved in an accident and are considering whether you can make a claim for compensation, Russell & Russell can help.

We help clients across England and Wales with their trips, slips and falls claims and offer a friendly and personal service tailored to your needs and situation.

We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, dealing with all personal injury types, ranging from minor incidents to life-changing accidents. 

The process of making a compensation claim for a personal injury can be complex and lengthy. Our experienced team will guide you through the process, supporting you every step of the way to secure the best possible outcome.

To speak to one of our personal injury solicitors, please call 0800 731 7555 or make an online enquiry.

For more information about our Personal Injury practice, click here.

Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.