Winter weather may look beautiful through your window, but trying to get from point A to point B with snow-covered walkways isn’t always as pleasant. Whether you’re trying to navigate the slippery steps of a public building or simply walking along the street, there could be ice along your path. One wrong step can cause you to lose your footing, and if you can’t catch yourself, you’ll likely find yourself on the ground, covered in snow, with a painful injury to complement your confusion.
Ice is a serious hazard, and you don’t always notice it. In some cases, the slippery surface can be concealed under snow or take the form of “black ice,” a near-invisible type of ice that causes road accidents. Walking along any icy surface significantly increases your chances of falling victim to a slip and fall accident. You won’t necessarily have safety measures to catch yourself, nor will you be able to correct your balance as easily with little to no traction under your feet. Those who slip on ice during the winter months are more likely to sustain injuries compared to traditional slip and fall accidents, too, especially if the accident occurs somewhere with other hazards present.
Slip and falls from icy conditions can result in broken bones, herniated discs, and muscle damage, amongst other things. Not only from the fall itself, but the slippery surface can land you in awkward positions that hurt you in ways you didn’t think were possible. In many cases, slip and fall accident victims are left with injuries that affect them for the rest of their life, like neck and back injuries. The soft tissue damage that comes with an injury of this caliber isn’t always correctable, and if the damage is severe, you could have lingering pain that changes the way you go about your normal life.
If you slip on ice and sustain an injury, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you believe you can “walk it off.” Some accident victims suffer internal injuries that may not present themselves right away, and if you visit a doctor, you can potentially save yourself from future pain. By this point, you should understand the details of your accident. More specifically, whether the situation could have been prevented by some forethought and proactive action.
Anyone that suspects that their accident was the result of third-party negligence should call a slip and fall lawyer. The expenses following a slip and fall accident are usually significant, but you shouldn’t have to foot the bill if you weren’t at fault. That call is essentially an investment in your future, and it’s one you should approach after some research into your options. Fortunately, you’re already on the page of America’s largest personal injury firm, so you’ve already landed on the doorstep of the team that’s uniquely capable of helping you reach the finish line of your case after an accident that you didn’t cause.
There might be thousands of law firms online, but there’s only one Morgan and Morgan. Fill out our free, no-risk case evaluation to get started.