Over the past several years, Black Friday has developed a reputation as a wild and dangerous shopping day. Frantic shoppers are obsessed with getting the most expensive items for the cheapest prices. In fact, some people are so obsessed with getting the best deals that they have no problems standing outside a store several hours before it opens, no matter what the weather may be. Just like Christmas music playing immediately after Halloween, the shoppers start piling into the stores right after Thanksgiving, on the night of Thanksgiving even! Not saying that shopping is bad, but this specific day designated for shopping is sure to cause some problems. 

Here are some problems you could possibly run into on Black Friday.

Car Accidents. Millions of people go out in the early morning hours of Black Friday seeking deals. With so much more traffic on the roads, bad road conditions, and distracted drivers, Progressive Insurance shows that car accidents spike 34% on Black Friday.

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Personal Injuries. As you may already know, people...are...crazy! There are people out there who are not afraid to trample you and take that new iPhone 13 right out of your shopping cart! If you would like a real-life example;  In 2010, several people were injured while fighting over towels that cost $1.28 at a WalMart on Black Friday in Atlanta, Texas. One year after that, a woman at a Porter Ranch, Calif., Wal-Mart used pepper spray on shoppers battling for XBox 360 video game units. Roughly 20 people were injured. Not only could you be injured by other people, but you could also accidentally injure yourself. Especially in the winter, there is always a bigger risk of slipping and falling due to ice outside and snow tracked into buildings creating puddles. Falling down in a big store swarmed with hundreds of aggressive shoppers is not how you want to spend your holiday season. So please be careful.

Potential for Theft. With such big crowds, shoplifting is harder to detect on Black Friday. Thieves try to take advantage of how busy the store personnel are. They do this by slipping stuff into their pockets and bags or hiding things under their clothes before exiting. Items left inside vehicles are also the main focal point for thieves. A lesson to be learned here, don't leave any money or expensive items sitting in your car!

Reviews.org shows a list of all 50 States with the highest chance of Black Friday violence.

Highest risk of Black Friday violence:

  1. Arkansas
  2. Tennessee
  3. West Virginia
  4. North Carolina
  5. Alabama

Lowest risk of Black Friday violence:

  1. Vermont
  2. Oregon
  3. Rhode Island
  4. Pennsylvania
  5. Wisconsin

Illinois made the top ten list of being "highest chance of Black Friday violence", sitting right at the #10 spot while Iowa was in the middle at #23. According to the list, more people in Iowa seem to be interested in Black Friday shopping, however, Illinois has a higher violent crime ranking when it comes to it. Though the two states are side by side it looks like your best bet for safe shopping is on the west side of the Mississippi.

Review.org ranking
State
Violent Crime ranking
Interest in Black Friday
10Illinois1722
23Iowa345

Hopefully, you are not too distressed about everything you just read, if you are, here are some Black Friday Survival Tips to help ease your mind and prepare you for the event.

  1. Make a plan
  2. Carry only what you need
  3. Keep your phone charged
  4. Leave if you sense danger
  5. Avoid Friday altogether and just do Cyber Monday

Safe Shopping Everyone!

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