5 Common Winter Time Injuries
Winter weather presents several unique challenges and risks in our everyday activities, from driving on icy roads to maneuvering snow-covered walkways. The harsher environmental conditions that accompany the colder seasons often lead to an increase in certain types of accidents, resulting in injuries.
Understanding common winter-time injuries helps you navigate this precarious season safely. It’s also essential to understand your legal rights if you experience an injury that is caused by someone else’s negligence. The following are some of the most common winter time injuries:
Slip and Fall Accidents on Icy Surfaces
During winter, slip and fall accidents skyrocket due to icy surfaces. While ice can be expected during this season and you should always expect it, this doesn’t prevent all injuries. Locations such as sidewalks, parking lots, or stairs are accident hotspots because changes in temperature can cause refreezing leading to hazardous conditions.
Landowners have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions, but snow and ice isn’t always promptly or adequately removed from public and private property.
Car Accidents on Snowy or Icy Roads
The probability of car crashes significantly increases during winter due to deteriorating weather conditions. Factors like reduced visibility, slippery road surfaces from snow and ice build-up, and an inability to brake quickly collectively heighten the risk.
Additionally, inadequate car maintenance can increase accident likelihood – like some motorists not having winter tires.
Snow Removal Accidents
During winter, the act of snow removal is not only essential but also potentially dangerous. Accidents can occur related to governmental or individual actions taken to clear driveways, sidewalks, and streets. For example, snow removal may inadvertently impact pedestrian walkways leading to slip and falls.
The potential for snow removal accidents typically increases with industrial sized vehicles clearing roads. Operators lacking experience with handling snow-removal equipment may also be involved in accidents with the machine that could harm themselves or others. This problem arises from their unfamiliarity with operating heavy machinery or not fully understanding the safety protocols associated with snow removal tasks.
Winter Construction Site Accidents
In general, construction sites pose many inherent risks for workers. These hazards become more prominent during harsh winter weather, as frigid temperatures and icy conditions can make the environment even trickier to navigate.
For example, heavy snow affects visibility which can result in strikes by moving vehicles within construction sites along with complications of machinery use.
Winter Sports and Recreational Injuries
Winter is a season marked by an array of outdoor sports and recreational activities, like skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, or even sledding. While these pursuits offer exhilarating and fun experiences, unfortunately they also have a downside – the potential for accidents that lead to severe injuries.
Proving Negligencе After a Winter Time Injury
Aftеr winter timе accidеnts, proving negligence is thе key to sеcuring compеnsation. Thе principle behind this involves showing that another party failеd in thеir duty of carе, lеading to your injury.
Accumulating thе right еvidеncе is еssеntial, likе accidеnt rеports, photographs from thе scеnе, and eyewitness accounts. It’s also еssеntial to demonstrate thе extent of your damagеs stemming from thе incident. Damagеs could bе physical, еmotional, or financial.
Always remember, rеaching out to a lawyеr aftеr any accidеnt is vital. Even if you arеn’t completely sure of your lеgal position or thе еxact extent of your rights, consulting with a Savannah personal injury attornеy is in your bеst interest. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for a frее consultation.