Slip and Falls Increase in Winter

Slip and Fall Accidents on the Rise

Winter weather is here and that means snow and icy conditions will cause slip and fall accidents to rise.

Avoiding a fall on an icy or snow-covered sidewalk can be hard to avoid.

Accidental slips and falls will cause thirty thousand serious injuries and twenty thousand deaths: with most of those accidents occurring during the winter.

Property owners are responsible to make sure their sidewalks and parking lots are safe for their guests, no matter the weather.

Residential homes and businesses need to make sure their sidewalks are clear of snow and ice.

They can do this by shoveling at the first sign of snow accumulation and using rock salt or calcium to clear any ice on the walkways.

If they fail to do so, and someone falls on their property and is injured, they could face serious repercussions.

If you have fallen on someone’s sidewalk, driveway, parking lot or stairway, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim. 

It is important to note that the home or business owner must have been negligent. This means they knew about a condition on their property and did not act to fix the condition in a timely fashion 

Determining whether you can hold someone liable for your injuries due to a sidewalk slip and fall will depend on several factors: Who is responsible for maintaining the portion of sidewalk you slipped on and whether the property owner’s actions were negligent.

When owners do not care for their grounds and neglect to remove the snow or de-ice the walkways in a timely manner, they are considered negligent. 

The area can become dangerously slick causing a slip and fall hazard.

Responsible businesses and homeowners should take steps to quickly tend to ice and other sidewalk hazards when snowy weather hits.

Unfortunately, a slip and fall can be hard to avoid, especially in these wintery conditions.

Below are a few tips on how you can prepare for the weather and help yourself avoid these types of accidents. 

• Dress for the weather. This includes wearing appropriate shoes such as snow boots with tread.

• Keep hands out of pockets for balance.

• Use handrails when available.

• Test potentially icy spots by tapping it with your foot before walking on it.

• Avoid icy sidewalks by walking in grassy areas instead.  

• Wipe your feet off when entering a building.

• Avoid distractions such as a cell phone.

• Avoid carrying items. If you begin to fall, toss whatever you are carrying. 

• Plan your route ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time.

Recovering Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident.

Slip falls are one of the most common injury claims pursued during the winter months.  These types of accidents can often lead to serious injuries causing victims to miss time from work and family.

It is a property owner’s responsibility to take appropriate precautions or fix any problems they know of. If they fail to do so, and a person falls and is injured on their property, a personal injury claim may be pursued. 

If you or someone you know were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Berger and Green at 412-661-1400 for a free no obligation consultation.