Holiday Injuries: When Ho Becomes Ohhhhh

Allen Ritchie • December 16, 2022
A person dressed as santa claus is laying on the floor.

Santa unconscious under a Christmas tree

 

It is all ho, ho, ho until someone gets hurt. Prepare now, so your Christmas celebration is not spent in the ER.

Here are 4 things we are seeing this year.

Distracted Drivers Disasters

You know about Alabamians who text and drive. Numbers are up. But it is becoming more dangerous to be a pedestrian here in Mobile. Surprisingly, it may be the rush for parking spaces. Think I’m exaggerating? The National Highway Safety Administration says October, November, and December account for nearly half of the year’s pedestrian accidents.

Shopping Cart Calamities

We are seeing more hurt shoppers, especially around the big box stores. You think crowds would be less, but there is still pushing, shoving, and general non-love and joy behavior. Add to this that there are fewer employees, so more stuff remains in the aisles to trip over.

The Curse of the Package Attack

This danger is from last year, but I imagine it will happen again. We get so excited to open those gifts with the security wrapping that we puncture ourselves with screwdrivers or crazily get out a blow torch. A British survey found 60,000 people go to the emergency room each year due to “difficult to open” packages. Here in the states, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 6,500 Americans are injured each year just trying to open GIFTS.

Christmas Tree Trouble

I didn’t see this one, but I wanted to share it. After the holidays, a German man threw his Christmas tree out a third-story window to get rid of it. The problem was he got tangled up and flew out the window with the tree. Neighbors saw it all happen and rushed him to the hospital … after they stopped laughing. OK, I added the laughing part.

Have a safe Christmas. It is almost here. Ho, ho, ho!

Join us on NBC 15 LawCall here in Mobile every Sunday night at 10:30, right after the news. We are taking a fall break and will offer 5-minute segments for the rest of the year and a live call-in segment every Monday on NBC 15 at around lunchtime. You can also call the Eiland & Ritchie offices at (251) 666-1212. We specifically set aside a few hours Monday morning to answer your questions

Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

A termite is crawling on a rock in the water.
By Steele Ritchie June 20, 2025
Termite Damage in Alabama: What You Need to Know (Q&A)
A judge 's gavel is sitting on top of a black table.
By Jason Steele March 28, 2025
Injured? Why a limited amount of time to sue in Alabama? Learn more from Jason Steele from Steele Ritchie LLC.
A man is writing on a piece of paper with a pen.
By Allen A. Ritchie March 21, 2025
Live In Alabama? 3 Essential Legal Papers … or Regret It Later. Learn more from Allen Ritchie with Steele Ritchie LLC.
A woman is sitting on a window sill with her head in her hands.
By Jason Steele March 17, 2025
Injured, Do I Have to Hand Over My Clothes? Learn more with Jason Steele from Steele Ritchie LLC.
A bunch of termites are crawling on a wooden surface.
By Allen Ritchie March 7, 2025
You cannot live in the Mobile area and not know about termites. Every year, they come, and they stay here all year long. Why? They like what we like – our warm summers and mild winters. In fact, the area around here is perfect … and I mean perfect … for termites. Those dangerous, destructive […] The post Termites Coming to Mobile and Baldwin Counties first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
A woman is driving a car on a highway.
By Allen Ritchie March 3, 2025
Question: An Uber or Lyft accident. Is it like being a passenger in a friend’s car? JASON: Not in Alabama. Plus, getting you paid can be complex, and you may need a lawyer to figure it out. Here is the big difference: You are dealing with a business, not an individual. The good news is […] The post Suing the Uber Driver After a Wreck first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
A woman is laying on a couch blowing her nose with a napkin.
By Allen Ritchie February 21, 2025
Here, in and around Mobile, we can work in some dangerous situations and with some very dangerous chemicals. Not feeling well? Don’t think your illness is just part of getting older. It could be that your job is literally killing you. This happens more often than most people think. In Alabama, it is estimated that […] The post AL Law: Work Is Making Me Sick first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
A young girl in a purple jacket is sitting on a couch with her hands on her chin.
By Allen Ritchie February 17, 2025
Question: If a Moon Pie injures me, can I sue? JASON: Really, you want to tell a jury in Mobile that a pastry hurt you? Well, happy Mardi Gras. Seriously, the question is not, can you sue, but rather, can you win? I am going to guess that you were hit by a Moon Pie […] The post Injured by Moon Pie. Can I Sue? first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
Two cars are involved in a car accident on the side of the road.
By Steele Ritchie February 11, 2025
A personal injury accident can be overwhelming, leaving victims confused and unsure of what steps to take next. Knowing the proper actions to take immediately after the accident can significantly affect your recovery and legal claim, whether it’s a car accident, slip and fall, workplace injury, or another type of incident. Taking swift action helps […] The post What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
A person is holding a cell phone with social media icons on the screen.
By Allen Ritchie February 7, 2025
After an accident, not only can your family and friends read your posts – but so can the other driver’s insurance company. And those guys are looking for any reason not to pay you. Posting about your accident could cost you thousands of dollars. Yes, thousands. Here are 5 tips I share with my clients: […] The post Stop the Social Media. You’re Injuring Your Injury Case. first appeared on Steele Ritchie.
Show More