Avoiding a springtime slip and fall

On behalf of Bryson Law Firm, PLC | April 8, 2020 | personal injury | 0 comment

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and flowers are in bloom. Whatever else is going on, you can still get out and enjoy walking around.

Just be careful that you don’t slip and fall. All it takes is a cracked sidewalk, an uneven curb or a pothole to send your sprawling. Falls cause more than 8 million emergency room visits every year and are the No.1 cause of missed days from work. They’re also the second leading cause of injury-related fatalities among those aged 65-84 years of age.

To keep yourself safe and healthy this spring, remember these tips:

  • Avoid unfamiliar places in dim light. Whether it’s a sidewalk or a parking lot, a lack of familiarity with your surroundings can cause you to misstep — especially when lighting is poor due to missing streetlights.
  • Be careful when it’s wet out. Spring weather is notoriously fickle, so wear shoes that have good soles that grip surfaces easily.
  • Be cautious around wet leaves and trash. If you have occasion to go into a parking lot that is less than well-tended, you may encounter leaves leftover from the fall or trash that’s accumulated near curbs. Those are hazards that make it easy to slip.
  • Look for dips, uneven surfaces, hills and holes. Parking lots, in particular, take a beating over the winter. and shop owners aren’t always the best about getting them resurfaced early in the spring.
  • Look for spills on floors. When you walk inside a store or office building, be conscious of the fact that others may have tracked in water or wet leaves from the conditions outside.

No matter how hard you try, it isn’t always possible to prevent a slip-and-fall accident. If you’re injured because a property owner was negligent about taking care of their parking lot, store floor or something similar, find out what right you may have to compensation.