It’s winter again, and the risk for slip and fall accidents is higher than it is at other times of the year. Slip and fall accidents are dangerous. They can lead to severe injury and even death. Last February, a college student died after slipping on ice on the campus at the University of Washington in Seattle. The young woman suffered a head injury from the fall and passed away at the hospital.
Winter weather in Mississippi is as unpredictable as it is elsewhere in America. There are dry days, wet days, cold days, warmer days, and all kinds of storms and patterns that make it hard for people to know what to expect when they go outdoors. The highly variable nature of winter weather can make it hard for building owners to keep track of the condition of sidewalks, parking lots, and even the flooring inside of their establishments. Try as they may, they might be unable to remedy every safety hazard promptly. This makes the winter season a time where people are more likely than usual to be injured in a slip and fall accident.
Slip and fall accidents can cause anything from minor scrapes and bruises to serious, painful injuries that require lengthy recovery time, physical therapy, and sometimes even surgery. Every part of your body can be hurt during a slip and fall accident, and some slip and fall accident victims also end up suffering from a concussion in addition to other injuries. Cold weather can make muscles tight, and more likely to be pulled or strained during an unpredictable or unanticipated movement like a slip and fall.
Fortunately, some slip and fall accidents are preventable. There are several things you can do to help yourself and others in your family to avoid slip and fall accidents. First, select appropriate footwear for the weather. While winter boots don’t look amazing with every outfit, neither do casts, bandages, and neck braces. Put on properly-fitting winter footwear before you go out the door. If you’re heading to work or your kids are heading out to school, make sure that you and they take along indoor shoes to wear while they’re inside. Stashing winter boots near the door or in another designated storage area at work or school can help keep water, snow, and ice off the floors and reduce the chance of a slip and fall. When you are walking outdoors, take it slow and maintain an awareness of what you’re walking on. That means put away the cell phone – people can and do slip and fall when they’re texting or talking as they walk.
If you do have a slip and fall accident, seek medical attention right away. After you have received any necessary medical care and you are moving forward to recovering from your slip and fall, you may wonder whether you can pursue financial recovery for your injuries. The Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law can help you determine whether you have a viable claim related to a slip and fall accident. To learn, please call our office today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free initial consultation.