Accidents Caused by Holiday Decorations in Louisville

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Holiday Decoration Injury?

Under Kentucky Premises Liability Law, KRS Chapter 411, property owners must keep their property reasonably safe and warn people who come onto their property about possible dangers. Unfortunately, during the holidays, decorations may be put up that can lead to a tripping hazard or a fire hazard, resulting in severe injury to unsuspecting guests if proper safety procedures are not followed.

After a premises liability injury, most victims will be offered a quick settlement by the insurance company. But what most victims don’t understand is that an initial settlement offer does not typically cover the extent of your damages. The Premises Liability Lawyers at Kaufman & Stigger will hold the insurance company liable for the full extent of your damages if your injury caused you to need medical treatment or miss time at work. We aggressively pursue compensation for injured victims:

Present and future medical expenses

Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity, you’ve suffered from your injuries

Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper

Damage done to your property during the accident

Pain and suffering caused by your injuries

Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident

Your mental state after a life-changing accident

What Should I Do After a Holiday Decoration Injury?

If you’re injured by a holiday decoration on public or private property, you should seek medical attention immediately. Seeking medical attention is not only important to your health, but it is an essential step to building a strong case if you elect to take legal action, even if you feel you’re not injured. Following medical treatment, it is recommended to:

Report the injury to management (if applicable). Premises liability accidents require a prompt investigation, especially if they occur on property owned by a corporation or government.

Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Hazardous conditions can be removed or remedied very quickly to prevent more accidents, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.

Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case, and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.

Contact Kaufman & Stigger to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact an injury can have on their lives. Our attorneys can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.

Legal Grounds for Filing a Claim for Defective Holiday Decorations

Product liability laws in Kentucky are designed to protect consumers from unsafe holiday decorations. Under the law’s principle of strict liability, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe for use. If a holiday decoration causes harm, liability may be assigned, even if the responsible party did not act in a reckless manner.

Types of defects found in holiday decorations include:

Design defects: these occur when a product’s design is inherently flawed, making it unsafe. An example of this includes a tree stand designed with insufficient weight support, leading to a tipping hazard.

Manufacturing defects: these types of defects arise during the production process, making an individual product unsafe.

Failure to warn: this defect occurs when manufacturers fail to provide adequate instructions or warnings about potential risks. An example of this would be a lack of warning about the flammability of certain decorations when placed near heat sources.

Common Holiday Injuries

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can mean that people or companies may try to cut corners when preparing for the holidays, leading to unsafe conditions. Here are some common decorating-related injuries that typically occur during the holiday season:

Fire-related injury: the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has recorded an increase in fire incidents around the holidays, especially Christmas. The most common of these occurences are Christmas trees being near candles. These accidents result in major property damage, burns, or permanent disability.

Slip-and-falls: There is an up tick and slip-and-fall injuries during the holidays because of the amount of physical effort it takes to hang holiday decorations. These incidents typically involve people using ladders to climb onto the roof and suffering a slip-and-fall. Also, stray wires that are not secured can lead to someone taking a nasty spill.

Product-related injury: Certain products may have been recalled or have not passed safety standards, but were sold to the public anyway. These can lead to horrific injuries when a person is unknowingly using a dangerous product.

Contact Kaufman & Stigger Holiday Decoration Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries due to a holiday decoration in Louisville, the Premises Liability Attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger can help you recover full compensation for your damages. Navigating the legal complexities of premises liability, defective products, or an act of negligence can be a nightmare for you and your family, but it doesn’t have to be. Our law firm protects victims of premises liability accidents by negotiating fair settlements and protecting their right to compensation.

Contact Kaufman & Stigger today for a free consultation and case evaluation. No upfront money is required for our counsel, and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.