Last July the better half and I purchased a home near ours that we are presently rehabbing. See http://vincenthoehn.point2agent.com/blogs/vince_hoehn/archive/2009/07/22/don-t-just-do-as-i-say-do-as-i-do.aspx I consider myself fairly skilled at many construction activities - compared to the average homeowner - but I certainly do not rise to the professional level in either my abilities or knowledge. Just know enough to be dangerous, I guess.
Well, Saturday night brought a 10:00 P.M. visit to the emergency room because I drove a trim nail clear through my middle finger, right hand. The nail visible to the right is the same size as the one stuck thru my finger.
How does one do such a thing? I was working in a small closet/pantry in the kitchen removing small pieces of quarter round from the corners so that I may more properly finish the corners with tape and joint compound. The offending piece was lying on the shelf, and when I pulling on another piece (apparently with great force; the framing of this house is hemlock and nails are stuck in it but good) it released suddenly and my hand slammed down on the nail hard enough to drive the nail into my finger right next to the nail and out the joint on the other side. After the intial shock, I had to laugh, it is such a stupid thing to do. I was just happy that the piece of wood wasn't larger -- it was hard enough to get the key in the ignition and drive the car as it was!
I don't know what emergency room visits cost, but it is probably enough that I could have hired someone to do a good portion of the work, have money left over, and not have a nail in my finger. If you are like me, you might want to factor in medical costs the next time you are budgeting for a home improvement project.