Many of us spend large portions of our day walking. We walk from our homes to our vehicles, we walk from our vehicles to our jobs, we walk through stores, we walk to appointments, and we even walk for recreational purposes. This is such a basic daily activity that few would ever consider how the mere act of walking could put them in harm’s way.
However, walking can result in an accident such as a slip and fall or trip and fall. Such accidents are also more likely to occur during certain times of the year.
For example, winters can get quite cold in Philadelphia. This puts citizens at greater risk of being harmed in accidents as a result of slipping on ice or snow.
This doesn’t need to happen to you. Guard against such accidents by:
Account for weather conditions when deciding what types of shoes or boots to wear when walking during the colder months of the year. If there’s a chance you may find yourself walking on icy surfaces, choose footwear with the right traction.
You can’t control the degree to which others address hazards like snow and ice on their properties. However, you can take basic steps to keep yourself and your guests safe on your own property.
Before a winter storm hits, invest in deicing agents, shovels, and other items you’ll need to remove snow and ice from walking paths should they accumulate. When a winter storm does strike, be vigilant about applying deicing agents and shoveling snow so that you and others have a safe path to walk on at your home, business, or both.
Paying attention to your surroundings is always important when navigating a busy city like Philadelphia on foot. It’s particularly crucial during the winter months when you could easily overlook ice in your path at night.
Don’t let yourself be harmed because you overlooked such hazards. Keep your eyes up when walking to ensure you spot any dangers that might otherwise result in an accident.
Whenever they are available, such as on outdoor steps, use handrails. If you do slip on ice or snow, gripping a handrail could prevent you from falling to the ground.
You might not always have the option to park close to where you’re going when you drive to the store, work, or any other such location. If a parking lot is crowded, there isn’t much you can do to change that.
However, if you do have the option, be sure to park in a manner that limits the amount of distance you need to cover on foot when traveling from your vehicle to your destination and back again. Additionally, be careful when entering and exiting your vehicle, as you may have parked on a patch of ice without realizing it.
All that said, while you can take steps to keep yourself safe, it’s possible you’ll still be injured as a result of slipping on ice or snow one day because someone else was negligent. For example, perhaps a property owner didn’t install sufficient outdoor lighting in their parking lot, rendering it impossible for you to spot icy conditions when walking to your car at night.
You may be eligible to recover financial compensation for your medical bills and other such losses if you’re ever hurt walking on ice or snow because of another party’s negligence. Discuss your case with a Philadelphia premises liability attorney at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. for more information about your legal options. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us at 215-732-2260 .
