Black Friday–the day after Thanksgiving, a day reputed to be when retailers offer some of the best prices of the season and kick off the countdown to Christmas. For many stores, it’s the single-biggest shopping day of the year. With so many people hitting stores, it’s no surprise that many accidents occur on Black Friday. To help you and your family stay safe, the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe offer the following Black Friday safety tips.
Nine Valuable Black Friday Safety Tips
Unfortunately, whenever large numbers of people inundate roadways and shopping centers, the chances of being injured increase. From 2006 –2021, there were 17 deaths attributed to Black Friday and at least 125 reported injuries. That actual number of injuries is likely higher, since many go unreported. Don’t become a statistic this holiday season—follow the nine Black Friday safety tips below from our Chicago injury attorneys.
Arrive Early
One of the easiest Black Friday safety tips is simply to show up early. Arriving early means you’ll get inside the store that much quicker, get your first pick of items, and hopefully leave before things get too chaotic. Crowds materialize fast on Black Friday, so be prepared. You can even scout out the location a few days before Black Friday so you can find your items easily and minimize your contact with big crowds.
Be Wary of Other Drivers
Car accidents are more prevalent during the holiday season. There are more people on the road, and some people may drive negligently, recklessly, or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Keep an eye out for these drivers, practice defensive driving, and look both ways before crossing any roads or crosswalks.
Be Mindful of Pedestrians
Like vehicles, pedestrians are everywhere during Black Friday. Drive slowly and with caution in parking lots and areas with high foot traffic. Anxious shoppers may not be as attentive as usual and may jaywalk. Always obey the posted speed limit and be on the lookout for pedestrians when you are pulling in or out of a parking space.
Bring Food and Water
Many people overlook these simple Black Friday safety tips: eat a healthy meal before shopping, and bring snacks and water with you. Shopping can be a physically and mentally draining activity, especially in the midst of the chaos that is Black Friday.
Avoid fatigue and dehydration, as these will leave you more vulnerable to accidental injury or illness by bringing enough snacks and water for you and anyone shopping with you. Bonus, you’ll get to skip the long fast food drive-thru lines at the end of the day when everyone else is famished.
Don’t Fight for Parking Spaces
Finding a place to park during Black Friday can be nearly impossible due to high shopper volume, but resist the urge to battle it out for parking spaces. Getting into an altercation with another driver can lead to road rage, assault, or accidents.
Arguing with another driver over a parking space isn’t worth the trouble and possible injuries to you, your family, or innocent bystanders. Instead of engaging with aggressive drivers, move on and try to find an empty space somewhere else. It may take a bit longer and you may have to walk a bit further, but if you arrive ahead of schedule, this shouldn’t be a problem. Additionally, try to park in a well-lit location, if possible, and take photos of your parking row and number if you’re in a large parking lot or garage.
Related topic: Useful Tips to Help You Avoid Road Rage in Chicago
Minimize Cash Use
If possible, do not use cash while shopping on Black Friday. ATM cards and credit cards are more secure. Better yet, using a digital wallet on your phone, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, is even safer since you won’t have to take your wallet out of your pocket or purse and these services require secure verification, such as a scan of your face or fingerprint.
Furthermore, don’t leave your money – or any valuables, for that matter – out of your sight, if you can help it. You will also want to be wary of pickpockets and other thieves who often take advantage of the hectic environment in shopping malls and popular stores on Black Friday.
Bring Someone With You
Although stampeding crowds can be dangerous, there is safety to be had in numbers. Having additional shopping companions along can help you spot potential dangers and can help you keep your cool if a confrontation does occur. This is especially true when the doors first open.
People have been trampled to death in the past during the initial rush of shoppers fighting to get in the front door. No sale price is worth putting yourself or others at risk. Be aware of your surroundings and follow all posted rules and employee instructions. If you do decide to go it alone, be sure to let your family or friends know where you’ll be and how long you’ll be gone.
Don’t Fight Over Items
No matter how badly you want that video game, laptop, or big screen TV, do not engage in any kind of fighting over items with other customers. Of all the Black Friday safety tips we recommend at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, this one is the most crucial. Make no mistake, some shoppers will stop at nothing to get the item they want, even if it’s already in your hands.
Do not engage with those looking for a fight. Protect yourself from personal injury and avoid a potential lawsuit against you by not fighting with other shoppers. You can always ask a sales associate if there are more items in stock, or you may be able to secure an equally-great discount from the comfort of your own home on Cyber Monday and throughout the entire holiday season.
Know Your Exits
It’s good practice to always have an exit strategy in any public place. If you’re shopping with someone, designate a meetup point before or after you both check out. Pay attention to where all emergency exits are located in case you need to make a hasty departure. It may seem simple, but this can save you precious seconds in the event of an emergency like a fire or stampede.
Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys would like to wish the people of Chicago a happy Thanksgiving and a safe holiday season. Follow these Black Friday safety tips to keep you and your family happy and healthy well into the new year.
Injured on Black Friday? Call Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys
Even taking into consideration all these Black Friday safety tips, there’s no foolproof way to avoid injury accidents. If you’ve been injured because of a car accident, slip and fall, or pedestrian accident on Black Friday, the experienced and compassionate Chicago lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys can help.
If you’ve been injured while shopping, please know that we are available 24/7 to assist you. You can reach us by phone at 708-222-2222, chat with a representative online, or submit a free case evaluation to start your free consultation. With a proven track record of billion-dollar results and a strong reputation for customer care, Lerner and Rowe is the way to go.