For many Quad Cities residents and visitors, winter is the best time of the year. People love strolls through snow-filled parks, sipping hot cocoa by a fire pit, cross-country skiing, and more. Unfortunately, our scenic winters also lead to winter pedestrian injuries. To help you and your family stay safe when ice and snow are on the ground, the Quad Cities pedestrian injuries lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham explain winter risks to be aware of and precautions you can take to avoid injuries.
Four Things You Can Do to Avoid Winter Pedestrian Injuries
While winter pedestrian injuries are relatively common, most are also highly avoidable. In fact, the majority of winter slip and fall accidents our Quad Cities injury attorneys have encountered could have been avoided through basic precautions. Here are four simple things to avoid being hurt in the winter.
- Be Sure to Wear Proper Footwear: slipping and falling on icy surfaces is one of the most common ways to suffer a winter injury. Unfortunately, many people wear shoes or boots without proper traction, dramatically increasing the chances of slips and falls in winter conditions. Wearing boots and shoes with soles meant for winter walking goes a long way toward improving your safety while walking in freezing temperatures.
- Beware of Uneven Surfaces Hidden by Snow: ice and snow can conceal uneven pavement, potholes, sprinklers, and other hazards that can cause you to trip and fall. These hidden dangers are hazardous because you won’t know them until you lose your footing. It’s essential to keep your eyes on the path ahead and take slower-than-normal steps during the winter, especially if you’re in an area you’re not familiar with.
- Keep Your Pathways Clear: failure to properly clear snow and ice from walkways, steps, driveways, and other areas can significantly increase the risk of winter pedestrian injuries. Clear out the pathways at your home and apply a layer of salt or sand to improve traction. Not only will this increase your safety, but it will also help you avoid a premises liability lawsuit from visitors.
- Don’t Forget About Melting and Refreezing: it’s common for Quad Cities temperatures to rise high enough to melt ice and snow during the day, only to have it freeze when the sun goes down. This cycle can create dangerous surfaces, as refrozen ice is typically smoother and more slippery than the original accumulation. In addition to wearing boots and shoes with grippy soles, it’s a good idea to leave a pair at the office or in your car in case weather conditions change.
The safety tips above are easy to understand and can go a long way towards keeping you safe this winter. Please follow them and encourage the people in your household to do the same. Doing so will significantly reduce the chances of a slip and fall injury this winter.
Contact a Quad Cities Slip and Fall Lawyer
Unfortunately, some winter pedestrian injuries will happen no matter how safe you are. There may even be a situation where the actions or inactions of another party caused your injury. If you’ve suffered a winter slip and fall accident caused by another’s negligence or recklessness, contact the Quad Cities slip and fall attorneys Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham for immediate assistance.
You can reach our team by phone at (309) 794-1515 or connect with us online through LiveChat to explore your legal options and begin your free consultation. Remember, our knowledgeable and experienced injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay a thing unless a settlement has been recovered on your behalf. Take the first step towards the money you deserve for your injuries, and call us today.
Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham has served Quad Cities injury victims for over 60 years. Our attorneys have represented clients in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Whiteside, and Knox counties in Illinois and Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, and Jackson counties in Iowa. Reach out to us today, and you’ll quickly discover why we’re one of the Midwest’s most trusted personal injury law firms.