The Cold, Hard Truth About Winter Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents send more than a million people to the emergency room each and every year, and account for more than 17,000 deaths. And the cold, hard truth is that slip and falls are even more prevalent due to winter weather, particularly in upper Midwest states like Ohio.

Common causes of winter slip and fall accidents

Property owners, both business and homeowners, have a legal obligation to reasonably maintain a safe environment in their public areas. Unfortunately, dangerous situations still occur, including:

• Icy sidewalks, parking lots, and other public walkways
• Unshoveled, or poorly shoveled, snow-covered public walkways
• Unplowed parking lots
• Unsalted, or under-salted, public walkways

“Reasonably” is the important word above, as Old Man Winter can be overwhelming.

Common related injuries

Due to the nature of winter slip and falls, the resulting injuries are often severe, such as:

• Broken bones
• Concussions
• More serious head injuries, including TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)
• Back injuries, including spinal cord damage

Head and back injuries, in particular, sometimes lead to long term, even permanent disability.

Ways to avoid winter slip and fall accidents

While it’s impossible to navigate that winter wonderland completely safely, there are ways to mitigate the danger:

• Take your time with small, careful steps.
• Wear the proper footwear for the weather.
• Never walk with your hands in your pockets. Keep your hands out, for balance and possibly to break your fall.
• Stay alert—don’t talk on the phone while walking! Even listening to music can be distracting. Likewise, try not to carry anything heavy.
• Try not to forge a new path. Stay on cleared walkways.
• Pay attention to weather conditions. Cycles of freezing and thawing can lead to dangerous conditions, such as black ice.

And if you are the victim of a slip and fall accident…

Contact the right attorney for the job. Slip and fall lawsuits are both notoriously complex, and notoriously difficult to prove. They require a deep well of experience, and a deep bench of staff and resources, to recover the settlement you deserve.

If you have a slip and fall accident claim, contact the attorneys at LaSalvia Law. We will fight to win you the compensation you deserve.

For more information about slip and falls, check out this infographic.