3 Common Holiday Injuries — and How Much They'll Cost You Without Insurance
Your budget isn’t the only part of your life that’s vulnerable to harm during the holiday season, and presents aren’t the only thing that can cost you more than you planned to spend. The time of winter festivities is also the season of accidents, and the uninsured can face enormous bills to repair the breaks, burns and cuts that thousands of Americans suffer during what’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year.
Getting hurt is never good, but without insurance, the financial fallout related to treatment can endure long after your wounds heal.
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This article outlines the three most common holiday injuries, which, together, account for the vast majority of the many dangerous, preventable and potentially expensive accidents that plague the winter season every year.
Burns
Glimmering candles and enticing kitchen smells are hallmarks of the holidays — and both represent a unique danger. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving, candle-related fires are highest on Christmas and Christmas trees pose an ongoing fire threat all season long.
A National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine study found that the average burn costs $3,275.90 to treat. However, more serious cases that include smoke inhalation, deep burns and large burn areas can quickly rise into five figures and beyond.
Typically, insurance covers roughly 58% of those costs, but those who pay out of pocket are stuck with the entire bill.
Cuts and Lacerations
According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), holiday injuries are most likely in older adults between 51 and 90, with cuts and lacerations among the most common reasons for hospital visits. They occur most often in the kitchen while prepping food with knives, but can also result from encounters with breakable decorations and sharp toys.
According to Pymander Health, it costs between $150 and $600 to clean, stitch and dress a wound without insurance. However, service and facility fees push the cost of the same treatment to between $500 and $3,000 at an emergency room.
Ladder Accidents and Other Falls
Stringing lights and hanging decorations, both inside and out, puts countless holiday revelers on one of the most dangerous items in any house — a ladder.
The WHA noted that roughly half of all preventable holiday injuries result from falls, many of which occur from heights on a ladder. The most common outcome is broken bones, and the cost of mending them for the uninsured can vary widely.
According to Mira Health, broken bones are not one-line items. Combined costs can include:
Evaluation
Imaging
Fracture care
Cast or splint
Implants
Surgery
Follow-up visits
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
In 2026, the average cost of mending a simple break at an urgent care facility is $226.17. However, closed reduction outpatient treatment costs between $2,445 and $3,277, while complex outpatient treatments involving surgery cost between $8,102 and $8,159.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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