Chicago Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer - Article
Walking on Ice
If there’s one thing Chicagoans should be familiar with, it’s ice. Yet every winter people are seriously injured by slip and fall accidents while trying to walk on our city’s icy roads and sidewalks. We at the offices of Chicago personal injury attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake want our clients to stay safe in wintry weather. To help meet that goal, here are some safety tips for dealing with slippery, icy conditions:
- Keep your hands out of your pockets. You may need them in a hurry if you slip, which is highly likely when the roads are iced over.
- Keep your eyes and ears open while walking. It is more difficult for private cars and other vehicles to stop suddenly in icy conditions. In fact, it is more dangerous for them to even try, as sudden deceleration could cause the car to skid, causing serious injury. If you are walking near a road, be very careful to look out for traffic. You may want to avoid walking with headphones during wintertime, to increase your awareness of your surroundings.
- Take very short steps or even shuffle. This will help to stabilize your balance and reduce the risk of a fall.
- Heavy, bulky clothing will not only keep you warm, but can help provide protective cushioning if you fall.
- Avoid wearing shoes with smooth heels. Try to find a pair of shoes or boots that provides adequate traction to help prevent slipping.
Determining Responsibility
People have a legal responsibility to keep their property reasonably safe for guests, or anyone who might be passing through if it is public access property. If you have been injured because a negligent property owner allowed ice or snow to build up unsafely on his or her property, you may be able to file a personal injury suit to regain money lost to missed work, medical bills and pain and suffering.
Contact the offices of
Chicago slip and fall injury attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake at (312) 466-8200.