With fall here in Missouri, the brutal Midwest winter is just around the corner. I know you don’t want to think about the cold, snow, and ice just yet, but preparing yourself for the inevitable could save you pain and money.
As a personal injury attorney, I see so many slip and fall injuries caused by property owners negligently leaving ice in their parking lots and sidewalks. Often, they assume that people will just “be careful.” The truth is, even when taking the utmost caution while walking, a slip and fall can still happen. This accident can leave the victim with life-altering back injuries.
As a home and business owner, I recently looked for some slip and fall prevention advice and found an informative article from University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
Here are some recommendations from the article:
- Wear appropriate boots. Even though snow boots can track mud, they provide much more traction for your feet than dress shoes or tennis shoes.
- Take shorter steps. Also, try planting your whole foot gently down instead of the typical heel-first stride we use when walking.
If you do end up falling:
- Get up slowly. If you fall and know right away you’ve hurt your back, get up slowly.
- Do stretching exercises. Most falls on ice lead to the strain of some deep muscles in the back. Try to do some stretching and take it easy for the next few hours.
- Ice the pain. Ice typically has more pain-relieving qualities than heat.
- Consult a doctor. If you’re having trouble sitting down or are experiencing radiating pain in your leg, you likely need physical therapy, medications, possible injections, or even back surgery.
- Contact a personal injury attorney. If you are kept home from work or are required to pay hefty medical bills because of the negligence of another, you have rights that need protected. A skilled personal injury attorney can fight for the compensation you deserve.
When winter arrives, I encourage you to take care while walking and clear the walkways around your home or business.