16 Dec 2024

The Home Alone Incident: How Medical Experts Would Handle Harry and Marv’s Claims in Real Life

With the festive season rolling around, it’s hard to resist the charm of classic holiday films, and Home Alone has to be one of the most beloved featuring the memorable antics of young Kevin McCallister as he defends his home against two hapless burglars, Harry and Marv.

But what starts as a comedy of errors soon turns into a full-blown injury fest, as Harry and Marv fall victim to a series of creative and painful traps, but while the mishaps and missteps in Home Alone make for comedy gold, they also raise an intriguing question: what if Harry and Marv took Kevin to court?

If the pesky burglars chose to pursue legal action, medical expert witnesses would be instrumental in assessing the extent of their injuries and evaluating any potential claims. So, here’s a closer look at some of the more creative injuries they endure and the types of expert witnesses who might be needed to navigate this fictional courtroom drama.

1. Blowtorch to the head

Who could forget Harry’s run-in with the blowtorch trap? As he opens a door, a blowtorch flame hits him square on the head, resulting in a quick charring effect and some loud yelping.

In reality, though, a burn like this could lead to serious injury, with potential for first-degree or even more severe burns, hair loss and damage to scalp tissue.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Burn specialists: whereby a burns expert would assess the degree of the injury, outline the necessary treatments, provide details on recovery time, and highlight any potential scarring, pain and complications that could arise from such a burn.
• Dermatologists: whereby if Harry sustained damage to his scalp tissue, a dermatologist could provide insights on long-term impacts, such as hair regrowth challenges or scarring
• Plastic surgeons: where for more extensive burn damage, a plastic surgeon could offer expertise on reconstructive options to restore skin and scalp appearance, address scarring and outline recovery plans for severe burns.

2. Paint cans to the face

A well-timed swing of paint cans takes out both Harry and Marv, with each of them getting struck in the face. Whilst this is good for a laugh, a paint can in the face could result in significant facial trauma, including broken noses, fractured cheekbones, and even dental damage.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Maxillofacial surgeons: where experts in facial injuries would be needed to evaluate the trauma sustained to the nose, cheeks and jaw, providing evidence of fractures or other facial injuries.
• Dental experts: whereby if the blow caused dental fractures or tooth loss, a dental expert could detail the extent of oral injuries and outline potential reconstructive options and associated costs.
• Dermatologists: where for any cuts, bruising or potential scarring from blunt force trauma, a dermatologist could provide treatments to aid skin recovery
• Orthopaedic surgeons: where for any additional fractures, an orthopaedic specialist could assess the nature and extent of bone damage and necessary treatment plans.

3. Stepping on glass ornaments

As Marv climbs through a window, he lands barefoot on a spread of glass ornaments. This unfortunate step leads to a comical display of hopping and yelping, but in real life, stepping on sharp glass could result in deep cuts, punctures, and even nerve damage.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• A&E consultants: who would provide immediate care insights, including wound treatment, foreign body removal and initial infection prevention.
• Podiatrists: where foot specialists would be required to assess and document cuts, any embedded glass, and potential long-term issues, such as nerve or tendon damage
• Infection specialists: where considering the risk of infection from such injuries, an infectious disease expert could advise on possible complications, especially with foreign bodies like glass fragments remaining in the foot.

4. Nail through the foot

Marv’s bad luck continues when he steps squarely onto a nail - a gruesome injury could result in puncture wounds, infection, and considerable pain.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• A&E consultants: who would handle the initial wound care and provide advice on infection prevention and short-term recovery.
• Orthopaedic experts: as puncture wounds from nails can damage ligaments and bones, an orthopaedic specialist would assess the extent of the injury, risk of tetanus and required recovery.
• Pain management experts: whereby for any ongoing discomfort, a pain management specialist could evaluate lasting impacts such as nerve damage, which could lead to chronic pain

5. Hot doorknob burn

Kevin’s clever trick of heating the doorknob leaves Harry with a branded palm, but in reality, this could cause severe burns, with potential for nerve and tissue damage.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Hand surgeons: whereby a hand surgeon could assess burn severity and the extent of any tendon or muscle damage, and also outline necessary treatments and recovery timelines.
• Neurologists: because for any burns that affect nerves, a neurologist might evaluate if Harry could face long-term mobility issues or nerve pain in his hand
• Dermatologists: who would offer skin recovery solutions and address the potential for lasting scar formation

6. Iron to the face

An iron dropped from above collides with Marv’s face, an injury that in real life could easily cause fractures to facial bones or damage to teeth.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Otolaryngologists (ENT specialists): whereby ENT specialists could assess injuries related to sinus and nasal passage damage from a heavy object impacting the face.
• Maxillofacial surgeons: where once again, an expert on facial bones would be necessary to detail the trauma and recovery time needed for such an impact.
• Dermatologists: whereby an expert would assess and address any skin burns or bruising from the direct heat and pressure impact

7. Tarring and Feathering

While it’s hilarious to watch, tar and feathers present unique challenges, as hot tar can lead to burns and the removal of sticky substances from skin and hair can be exceedingly painful.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Dermatologists: whereby for skin and hair concerns, a dermatologist would assess burns from the tar and recommend treatments to manage skin recovery
• Pain management specialists: since tar can cause both physical and sensory discomfort, a pain expert might weigh in on the extent of suffering Harry endured.

8. And finally, an encounter with a tarantula and a crowbar

In one memorable moment, Marv attempts to whack the tarantula with a crowbar whilst it is sitting on Harry’s chest, missing the spider and landing a solid hit on his partner.

Here, the spider encounter might bring psychological trauma, while the crowbar could lead to bruising or internal injury.

Medical expert witnesses needed:

• Psychologists: as for anyone experiencing trauma from contact with a spider, a psychologist could assess if any resulting anxiety or phobia would require treatment
• Internal medicine specialists: where the crowbar impact could result in organ bruising, so an internal medicine expert might evaluate potential damage and associated recovery time.
• And Orthopaedic or Neurologists: where for any head wounds, these specialists could assess the potential for skull fractures, concussions, or neurological symptoms.

While Home Alone presents an exaggerated series of mishaps, the injuries Harry and Marv suffer touch on some surprisingly realistic concerns, and each injury would require a specialised medical expert to evaluate its severity, outline the recovery process and provide evidence in a potential court case.

So, as you settle down to watch Home Alone this festive season, remember that behind the laughs and slapstick comedy, there is a serious side where medical expertise could make all the difference.

If Harry and Marv chose Speed Medical, we’d help from start to finish at any point in their claims journey, and if you’d like more information on how, please visit www.speedmedical.com, contact our team via email at info@speedmedical.com or call us directly on 0330 094 8749.