In preparation for the winter season and in an effort to keep homeowners and business owners safe, OSHA recently posted an article about how to reduce your risk for premises liability, both home and workplace, this winter season. Here are some of their tips:
Freezing Rain on Winter Roads
In these harsh winter weather conditions, many car drivers across our state of Pennsylvania, as well as the country, are dealing with less than desirable road conditions. According to news source Syracuse.com, the phenomenon of "flash-freezing" is causing major problems on both roads and sidewalks across the East Coast this winter.
Flying Winter Debris Causes Damage on Road
Unfortunately, winter is not over yet. We still need to take care when driving on the roads in our icy winter conditions. Recently, there was a report on a PA road involving an accident due to icy conditions. According to news reports, a car was driving on the highway when ice from a nearby tractor-trailer hit the car, shattering most of the windshield and injuring a passenger inside. The injured party had to be taken to a nearby hospital. Local police are stating that the accident is a hit and run.
Refresher: Winter Driving Quizzes
The following is an article our firm published about four years ago in the winter. These quizzes proved helpful to many we knew then, and we hope they'll help you now!
Ice and Snow May Mean "Slow!"
Are you up-to-date on winter safety practices? During this season, people have to take extra precautions due to the weather. This is especially true when you are out walking. According to our own regional UPMC website, there are many preventative measures you can take to prevent winter accidents. Some of their suggestions include:
Winter Ice Means Slip and Fall Injuries
Once again, it is worth the reminder to make sure that you're being careful out on the ice! A recent news story out of our neighboring state of New York covered a lawsuit involving a slip-and-fall on the ice. The story involved a medical worker who broke her ankle when she slipped and fell on the ice of her employer's building. This injury caused a required surgery and prolonged recovery period. The worker sued the building owner and the managing real estate agent, among others. According to reports, there was a thin layer of snow on the parking lot which covered up the ice. The grade of the parking lot caused frequent problems with water pooling, which caused ice to form in freezing conditions. The lawsuit claims that the defendants were aware of the pooling conditions in the parking lot, but didn't act to fix the problem.
Be Cautious When Driving This Winter
Unfortunately, there have been many recent reports in central and western Pennsylvania involving accidents due to winter road conditions. Ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain can cause accidents for even the most careful of drivers. There are some important things to consider when driving this winter, which, even though they may be second nature to most native Pennsylvanians, are worth checking out to see if there is anything you're missing!
Using the "Penguin Walk" To Reduce Slips On The Ice
It's dangerous to be outside this time of year in the cold, especially with the hidden danger of ice. Want to know how to avoid a slip and fall accident this winter? Take a look below at how to keep yourself at a lower risk for accident when traveling outdoors this winter:
Slipping On The Winter Ice?
Slip and fall injuries tend to increase during the winter months, due to an increase in bad weather, such as sleet, ice, and snow. These falls may lead to long-lasting and/or painful injuries, such as broken bones, concussions, and loss of consciousness. Extended damage from such an injury may include chronic pain and nerve damage.
Winter Is Coming!
t's that time of year again when we should start thinking about winterizing our vehicles!
Attorney Douglas V. Stoehr would like to offer a few tips that will help with this process.
