While a personal injury accident can happen at any time, some types of accidents are more likely to happen during certain types of weather. For example, icy roads lead to more skidding and vehicle crashes, while icy sidewalks lead to more slip and fall accidents. It is important to be aware of the impact that weather can have on your safety and take steps to avoid personal injury accidents caused by icy or snowy conditions as winter sets in.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, about 24 percent of weather-related vehicle accidents occur on icy pavement, and 15 percent occur during snow or sleet events. Every year, more than 1,300 people die and more than 116,800 are injured during vehicle crashes on snowy or icy roads, and 900 fatalities and 76,000 injuries are attributed to snowing or sleeting weather conditions.
In addition, recent studies indicate that more than twice as many people die or are injured during winter cold than summer heat. This includes more than half of the one million victims of slip and fall accidents each year. Icy sidewalks and slippery steps account for the majority of these accidents, but wet floors from tracked-in snow also contribute their share of accidents.
There are several things you can do to increase your safety during the winter months when snow and ice are a daily fact of life:
At Barber & Associates, we have been helping Alaskans seek compensation for personal injury accidents for decades. Our professional attorneys will work with you to ensure that your rights are protected and that you recover as much money as possible to pay for your medical bills, increased expenses, and pain and suffering. If you have been the victim of an accident involving a personal injury, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!