Snow Worries: Slips and Falls

 Posted on February 18, 2016 in Personal Injury

Winter is upon us and so is the time for hazardous conditions related to the weather. Rain events and snow storms are regional concerns and so is the risk that people will slip and fall on icy underfoot conditions.

In the United States, total injuries due to falls are estimated at $13-14 million per year. Moreover, falls are the number one cause of accidental injury, and resulted in 20.8 percent of all emergency room visits in 1995.

Contracting for plowing services may seem adequate for business owners; however, they are not. Proper treatment of walkways, driveways, and crosswalks is imperative.

Slip and Fall Prevention

Property owners are legally responsible for keeping their premises reasonably safe. However, if they do not, there may be consequences resulting in serious injuries. Therefore, building owners should formulate a plan to inspect their property and surrounding areas frequented by pedestrians. Regular monitoring is crucial to identifying any hazardous conditions and making swift repairs. Examples of maintenance plans to help improve safety include:

• Removing snow and ice immediately;
• Treating surfaces with salt/anti-slip paint;
• Checking for cracks or depressions in walkways;
• Painting curbs in contrasting colors to enhance visibility for pedestrians;
• Checking that roof drains do not empty out onto walking surfaces to avoid slick or icy surfaces; and
• Displaying signage to warn pedestrians of potential hazards.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Over 700,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury—most often because of a head injury or hip fracture. In 2005, more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall—an increase from 7,700 ten years prior. If icy conditions exacerbate already compromised sidewalk conditions, then pedestrians are at a high risk of injury. The elderly, in particular, are likely to end up in the emergency room if they fall and are more likely to suffer serious injuries.

Compassionate Legal Assistance

If you slipped and fell and suffered a serious injury, it is important that you contact a personal injury attorney who can review your case and service your needs for deserved compensation if it turns out a premise owner did not fully insure that walkway surfaces were safe. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, our experienced DuPage County slip and fall injury lawyers are skilled at recovering damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of wages. Please call us today at 630-932-9100 to schedule your free initial consultation.

Sources:

https://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/

http://apartments.org/blog/eliminating-slip-trip-fall-hazards-in-parking-lots/

http://cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html