Tips for Staying Safe on the Sidewalks in Icy Winter Weather
The holidays are just around the corner and many merchants already have enticing window displays. As the temperatures start to drop, it’s common for city sidewalks to turn into sheets of ice. In your excitement to see the tantalizing offerings in shop windows across the Lone Star State this holiday season, you want to be careful that you don’t end up suffering a serious injury in a slip and fall on icy pavement.
Strategies for Minimizing the Risk of a Slip and Fall While Window Shopping
The first and most important way to protect yourself from an unnecessary fall while shopping this holiday season is to acknowledge the risk. Too often, slips and falls occur because pedestrians simply haven’t considered the possibility of danger. When you start with knowledge that it’s cold outside and recognize that conditions may be right to produce ice on pavement, you can take preemptive steps to maximize your safety:
- Put on the right footwear before you go outside—Leather soles offer many benefits, but traction on ice or snow is not one of them. Plastic soles can also make footing treacherous. You’re better off with rubber or neoprene on the bottom of your shoes, and you’ll want soles that have some type of tread (ideally not worn thin).
- Be intentional in your movements—Many falls happen in the spur of the moment. Take a step at a time. If a sidewalk looks like it might be icy, test it with one foot first. You’ll have better control of your balance if you keep your hands out of your pocket—that means, though, that you’ll want a good pair of warm gloves with you. If possible, don’t try to carry heavy or bulky loads, as you may lean one way or another to maintain balance and overcompensate, ending up on the ground. Don’t strut along the sidewalk…short steps are better, particularly with your feet splayed (pointing outward) just a little.
- Keep one eye on the path in front of you—You need to look where you’re going, both immediately in front of you and on the ground before you.
- Be particularly careful when entering or exiting a vehicle onto the sidewalk—You may be unable to determine how slippery the sidewalk is. Additionally, you’re more likely to find “black ice,” so-called because it’s essentially invisible, on the street than on the sidewalk. Use the car for support as you get in or out of the vehicle.
Of course, the easiest way to avoid slips and falls while holiday shopping is to stay home if weather conditions are too bad. If possible, wait until the snow has stopped and merchants have had an opportunity to clear sidewalks and put down salt or sand.
Contact the Proven Personal Injury Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we have more than 40 years of experience helping personal injury victims across Texas get full and fair compensation for the carelessness or negligence of others. We will aggressively help you pursue full and fair compensation when you have been injured in any type of accident. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
