Personal injury can happen at any time, but the winter months always seem to see an increase in certain types of accidents. Everything from walking to riding in a vehicle is a bit more dangerous when there is ice and snow present, so many falls, trips and other injuries occur even when people are just going about their daily routines. When engaging in sports and leisure activities, the number of accidents may be even higher.
What Types of Personal Injury Accidents Happen in the Winter Months?
There are several types of personal injury accidents that occur most commonly in the winter months. These accidents include:
- Snowmobiling is a very popular sport, particularly in areas where travel by main roads is difficult. A snowmobile is a large, heavy vehicle that can travel at high speeds, and every year as many as 200 people are killed and 14,000 injured on snowmobiles. The most common cause of death from snowmobiling, like motorcycles, is ejection from the vehicle. Even when the victim survives, ejection can result in a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury that can quickly change the person’s life.
- Skiing accidents are quite common and usually result from falls while going downhill. Since skiers can reach relatively high speeds of more than 50 miles an hour, running into an object or losing balance and falling can have devastating results. Everything from broken necks to spinal cord injuries can result. Additionally, falling from ski lifts or being hit by other out-of-control skiers or snowboarders is possible.
- Ice Skating. Ice skating seems like a relatively safe sport but falls and injuries are very common. In more serious cases, skaters may fall through the ice, resulting in serious injury or death. This often happens when ice skating areas are not properly maintained or are not clearly marked.
- Snowshoeing/Hiking. Snowshoeing and hiking through the woods and mountains can be a wonderful form of exercise. However, falls and other injuries are frequent, and in some cases the victims are difficult to reach quickly. Hypothermia and other problems can result if a victim falls in a remote area and is not found immediately.
- Driving on Ice/Snow. Driving on ice or snow remains one of the leading causes of personal injury during the winter months. Careless drivers who do not slow down or who violate traffic laws can cause serious accidents skidding over the ice. These accidents are particularly devastating when one vehicle is much larger than the other, such as a car and a motorcycle or a car and a large truck colliding.
When someone is injured, it is important to speak to an attorney to ensure that there is enough money to pay for medical bills and other costs associated with the accident. At Barber & Associates, we have spent many years working with victims of personal injury accidents in Alaska. Give us a call to learn how we can help you recover money to pay your medical bills as well as lost wages and other expenses.