The days are getting shorter, and it is definitely getting cold outside. While the ground is not yet white with snow, it is a good time to think about making sure that you have good winter boots on hand for when the flakes start to fly. While winter boots cannot prevent all winter weather related slip and fall injuries, they can go a long way towards helping you stay on your feet when you encounter ice, slush, or other slippery conditions underfoot.
Slippery walking conditions could be present anywhere, this winter. If you own and maintain your home, you probably know which areas of your driveway and entry area get slick when it snows. Keeping these areas clear and treating them with sand or salt if necessary can help you and any visitors to your home to stay safe.
When you go out, be aware that slippery conditions may exist in parking lots, on sidewalks, in entryways, and in many other places. The owners of the places that you go have a duty to use reasonable care to keep their property safe. In the winter, this means checking the property often to look for and address hazards like ice, snow, and wet floors.
Despite the duty that property owners owe to the public to keep their facilities safe, dangerous conditions do sometimes arise that are not addressed for some period of time. If you do slip and fall this winter, seek medical attention for your injuries right away. Some injuries, especially those to the neck and back, as well as some types of brain injuries, are not always readily apparent in the hours and days following a slip and fall. Getting prompt medical attention can not only help you to take care of any injuries that you do feel right away, it also creates a record of medical treatment that you can rely on as needed when negotiating a fair settlement with an insurance company.
Aside from getting prompt medical attention following your slip and fall accident, make sure that you report it to the property owner. It is a good idea to keep your discussion with them brief and avoid discussing too many details about what happened, as they are an adverse party who could potentially be liable to you for your injuries, If the property owner does try to have you complete an accident report, make a statement, or fill out any other paperwork regarding the accident, let them know that you wish to review the paperwork with your attorney before you complete it.
If you can, take pictures of the dangerous area, and write yourself some notes about what happened. Don’t forget to take pictures of your feet, wearing your winter boots, and don’t forget to mention the fact that you were wearing winter boots in your account of the accident. Wearing winter boots shows that you were taking appropriate measures to keep yourself safe in light of the wintry weather conditions, and this could prevent you from being found partially or completely responsible for your injuries.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, an experienced Kansas personal injury lawyer can help you to obtain a settlement that will enable you to recover physically and financially from your injuries. To learn more about how a Kansas personal injury lawyer can help you recover from your slip and fall accident, call our Wichita office today at (316) 264-1548.
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