Wintertime Slip and Fall Accidents: Ski Lifts, Snow, and Ice

Ski-Related Slip and Fall Accidents

With winter season in full swing, slip and fall accidents related to skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are more prevalent. Naturally, there is some risk that accompanies going down the slope. Additionally, although rare, accidents can also occur on the ski lift. Being cautious around snow and ice can help prevent a slip and fall accident.

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP have decades of experience representing clients in accident cases, including slip and fall lawsuits. The firm continues to offer free legal consultations to individuals with questions about filing a lawsuit.

Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports come with certain risks, so safety advocates advise caution when participating. A number of different injuries can occur on the slopes, especially when there is ice. However, slip and fall injuries do not always occur while skiing. Patrons can suffer slip and fall accidents at the lodge as well. For example, all the snow and ice being tracked around the lodges can cause the floors to be wet and slippery. This can cause an injury if there are no caution signs and the puddle is not cleaned up.

Additionally, injuries can occur from chair lifts on the slope. Take care to get on and off the ski lift properly to avoid your chance of an injury. Ski lift injuries and deaths are rare, but they have happened in the past.

There are many safety regulations surrounding ski lodges and ski resorts, but these standards may not be all inclusive. Avoid injuries by taking the right precautions, being conscious of your surroundings and participating in a safe and appropriate manner.

Avoiding a Slip and Fall Accident During the Winter

It comes as no surprise that slip and fall accidents occur more frequently during the winter. The presence of snow and ice makes the roads, sidewalks, and perhaps the floors of buildings, slippery. Even a short, routine walk to the grocery store or mall can result in a slip and fall injury.
Winter slip and fall accidents can cause injuries such as bruises, fractures and broken bones. Depending on the severity of the fall and the condition of the accident victim, a slip and fall could even cause something as serious as a brain injury.

As such, there are certain precautions you can take during the winter to prevent a slip and fall accident. If there is snow or ice on the ground, wear the appropriate footwear to protect yourself. Shoes that you wear in the snow should have enough traction to prevent you from falling. When you are walking outside, it is best to take small, careful and precise steps. Running, walking quickly or suddenly changing directions can cause you to slip and fall.

Keep your sidewalk shoveled and free of snow. Place salt on the ground and implement other measures to prevent the formation of ice, which can lead to serious slip and fall injuries.

If you are walking outside in poor weather conditions, avoid distractions such as texting or checking your email. You may miss an ice patch or other hazard on the ground.

Filing a Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit

Parker Waichman notes that there are several conditions that must be met to file a slip and fall accident lawsuit. If you were injured due to a slip, trip or fall due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, you must show that the property owner was negligent in addressing these safety issues. In order for a property owner to be liable for a slip and fall injury, they also must have notice of these conditions.

Say, for example, a property owner fails to place salt on the walkways and does not shovel the snow after it falls. If someone walks by and becomes injured due to these unsafe conditions, the owner may be liable for their negligence. The victim may also have a case if the owner was negligent in other ways causing the unsafe conditions, for example failing to address cracks or holes that harbor ice when it snows.

On the other hand, consider an alternate scenario where the owner did take the appropriate measures by salting the property, shoveling the snow and otherwise maintaining safe conditions. Afterwards, snow begins to fall again and someone happens to slip and fall during that time. In this case, the owner may not be liable because they can argue that the snow fell quickly before a reasonable person could remove it.

Wintertime Slip and Fall Accidents: Ski Lifts, Snow, and Ice

Determining the validity of a slip and fall case also involves looking at whether the injured victim was at fault. For example, the floor of an office building is slippery from snowy conditions outside. The property owner cleans the floors and places a caution side advising of slippery floors. If a person ignores the sign and starts running or walking haphazardly leading to a slip and fall, they will likely not have a case.

If your slip and fall accident was caused by unsafe conditions due to negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit. Injuries from a slip and fall can range from being minor to very serious. Some individuals only suffer bumps and bruises while others may endure long-term health consequences. Compensation from a slip and fall accident lawsuit can help cover medical bills and expenses, such as hospital visits. Additionally, you may need to take time off from work for your slip and fall injury. For example, you might need to use your sick days for a doctor or physical therapy appointment, or you may need to stay home and simply recover from the fall.

If you have questions about a slip and fall accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today.

Legal Help for Slip/Trip and Fall Accident Victims

Parker Waichman has decades of experience representing victims injured by slip and fall accidents. If you or someone you know was injured by someone else’s negligence, you may have valuable legal rights. Our personal injury attorneys offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).