Studies prove accidents and negligence in hospitals peak during the holidays. Hospitals are busy during this time and are often understaffed too. Throw in employees who have been celebrating a bit too much in their free hours, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Weekends and nights during the holiday season are the absolute worst time to be staying in a hospital or be treated in the emergency room and might end with medical malpractice due to errors being made during your treatment.

This Malpractice Guide guide discusses whether or not it is more dangerous to be hospitalized during the holidays.

Avoiding Hospitals During Holidays

Whenever you have a choice, plan your hospital stay for well-before the holidays or after them. While you’re at it, avoid the month of July too, when vacations can decimate a hospital of its best people and newly-graduated medical students are just starting their residencies. Studies show that after the holiday period, July is the worst time to be in a hospital.

In late December into early January, hospitals are primarily staffed by those with the least seniority, just like most other work environments. That means you may be treated by rookie doctors, the least experienced nurses and your prescription might be filled by a pharmaceutical technician temp; this could lead to medication errors that lead to malpractice. When you factor in the rise in admissions during this period due to holiday-related car accidents, drug or alcohol overdose and domestic violence, you can easily see why staying clear of the hospital at this time makes great sense.

Of course, you can’t choose when you’ll get sick, injured or have a medical emergency. But if you plan to have elective surgery such as a knee replacement or gastric bypass surgery, avoid the holiday period. Some people have extra time off in December, so think that’s a good month to have these things done. It isn’t.

The hospital’s best people, those with the most time off during the best times of the year, are not there during the holidays. Those who are there wish they were somewhere else. Some will show up to work with a hangover or still under the influence. These are not people you want trying to determine if the prescription is for 10 milligrams or 100 milligrams, for example.

If you Are Hospitalized During the Holidays

If you have no choice but to be in the hospital during this period, there are a few things you can do. Ask nurses to double-check medications you’re given. If you get a young resident doctor, ask him or her to bring a more experienced doctor to see you before significant decisions regarding your care are made.

Also, you might ask to speak with the nurse in charge of the shift, sometimes called the “charge nurse.” Let this individual know of your concerns. He or she may be able to assure you that those providing your care are experienced and competent. If not, ask for the charge nurse to provided oversight in your treatment.

If you ever feel like you have a case for malpractice, make sure you contact a malpractice attorney immediately to discuss it.