The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 130 million individuals visit an emergency room annually. Over 20 percent of those individuals are seeking treatment for an injury-related accident. Injury incidents can happen anytime during the year and are not limited to only warmer months. However, the dangers that exist during winter are unique and demand that specific precautions be taken to avoid injuries. Please keep reading to view the top 3 unique dangers in the winter months, according to an experienced winter accident lawyer.
1. Slips and Falls on Sidewalks and Parking Lots
Any moisture can make a walkway slippery. But snow and ice are treacherous and frequently occur in New York throughout the winter. It may be impossible to avoid going outside when snow and ice are present, so the chances are high that you will encounter these elements on foot this winter.
Moreover, while puddles and spills may be evident in warmer months, detecting slippery patches of snow and ice is more challenging.
Not all property owners will properly shovel and treat their sidewalks, parking lots, and other walking surfaces. This failure can lead to you experiencing a sudden slip and fall, leaving you with broken bones, an injury to your spinal column, or a head injury.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall due to the negligence or disrepair of city or private property, contact an experienced winter accident lawyer at The Matera Law Firm for a free consultation.
2. Winter Weather-Related Injuries
Depending on your employment, your work may continue through the winter months. If you are a delivery driver involved in a winter truck accident, a utility repairman, or a construction worker injured on a winter weather construction site, you will be outside and exposed to the winter wind and moisture. This exposure to the elements can also lead to dangerous conditions like hypothermia and frostbite.
Aside from ensuring a safe work environment, your employer is supposed to ensure you have appropriate protective gear if you must work outside, including a hat, gloves, coat, and footwear. If they do not provide you with this gear, and you suffer harm, you should consider discussing your rights and next steps with a winter accident lawyer.
3. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Fireplaces, faulty furnaces, generators, and vehicles running in an enclosed space are some ways carbon monoxide can accumulate and cause illness or death. Business owners and employers must be cautious about using devices that produce carbon monoxide during winter.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, so it is not easy to detect if you do not have a specialized detector available. Instead, people recognize the presence of carbon monoxide most often because the symptoms of exposure begin to manifest, such as dizziness, nausea, and weakness.
Who to See About Winter Injuries in New York
If you or a loved one are injured in any way during the winter, you may have a claim for damages. If another person’s failure to adequately protect your safety led to an injury, hospitalization, or other harm, a winter accident lawyer in New York might be of assistance to you in recovering financial damages.
The Matera Law Firm has decades of combined experience that has enabled us to secure millions of dollars in compensation for those injured in serious accidents and have a team of dedicated winter accident lawyers who can help you obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings from work, and other harm you suffered as a result of your accident.
Request your free, no-obligation case evaluation today by contacting The Matera Law Firm.
English 
Spanish