CT Law Firm Offers Personal Safety Tips to Avoid Winter Injuries

Every year, thousands of people are injured in vehicle crashes during snowfall or sleet. Decreased visibility, a lack of vehicle traction and drivers’ inexperience in the snow can all contribute to these significant injury rates. Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers sees a bulk of its business in the cold, New England winter months and offers tips to help prevent personal injury to both yourself and others throughout the entire season.

“The harsh winter always brings about situations and challenges that people don’t encounter at other times of the year,” explains Attorney Jonathan Perkins. “Our goal is to make people aware of some of the precautions and measures they can take to promote safety on the roads, on their feet and in the community.”

For instance, failing to clear snow from vehicles can cause ice missiles to form on roofs, which can be jarred free on roads and highways, causing potential danger to other drivers. In the state of Connecticut, drivers are required to pay a $75 fine for failing to remove ice and snow from their roofs before hitting the roads.

Similarly, many people are likely to encounter dangerous conditions not only on the roadways, but also on sidewalks and other asphalt, including parking lots and driveways. Attorney Perkins notes that black ice remains one of the most dangerous conditions during the winter. This hazardous, thin layer of ice often remains invisible on the road or sidewalk until coming into contact with it.

When getting ready to operate your vehicle after a snowstorm, Attorney Perkins suggests taking the following precautions to remove snow and ice from your car before making your way onto the roads:

· Never start your vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage
· If you can open your car door, always begin the process by starting your car, which will help warm up the vehicle and dislodge snow and ice – make sure the doors are unlocked before closing them again
· Clear snow from the more accessible parts of the vehicle, pay attention to all windows as well as the hood and the trunk
· Use the defroster to clear ice from both the front and back windows of your vehicle
· Use a soft-sided brush, which will not scrape your car paint, to clear snow off the roof
· Push snow from the roof towards you, rather than away from you, when clearing it
· Make sure all headlights, brake lights and license plates are clear of snow
· Clear all snow from the roof of your vehicle, in order to prevent other drivers from losing control of their cars, destruction of windshields, or collisions with other vehicles
To prepare for any emergency, Perkins also suggests keeping warm clothes, including a hat, gloves, and a coat in your vehicle, in addition to a blanket, food and water.

When driving in snowy or icy conditions, the following advice is given to prevent additional chance of accidents:

· Accelerate and decelerate slowly – applying the gas slowly is the best way to regain traction and avoid skidding
· Let your car pass over the ice without slamming the brakes or making sudden adjustments to avoid spinning out
· Leave yourself enough time to come to a slow, complete stop at stop signs and stop lights
· Following distance should be increased between cars to provide the distance necessary to stop
· Try not to stop, while going up a hill or power up hills, applying the gas on snow-covered roads will only start your wheels spinning and lead to loss of vehicle control
· Avoid driving when overtired
· Install snow tires to help with additional traction and grip on snowy and icy roads
· If possible, avoid using parking brake in rainy or snowy areas

These safety tips not only apply to drivers and pedestrians, but also, business owners who face potential injury claims filed against them. In 2014, falls accounted for 20% of all work-related deaths. This number is heightened during the winter, when ice and snow on the ground can be brought inside and cause extremely slippery conditions.

In fact, Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers recently collected $617,500 for a 58-year-old man who fell on a set of stairs upon making his way to work. To prevent slips and falls, both inside and outside, make sure the following steps have been taken:
· Wear the proper footwear if walking in snowy or icy conditions, and use handrails when possible
· Know when black ice is likely to form – when it is raining and the air is below 32° F, conditions will likely cause the ground to freeze and precipitation will freeze on impact
· As a business owner, create a written plan to remove hazards – indicate who is responsible for removing hazards and determine how they should go about removing them
· Figure out how common hazards, including snow and ice, should be removed and properly train the person responsible for clearing these hazards
· Place warning signs around any areas that may appear to be wet or dangerous
· If an accident does happen, immediately investigate the accident – take pictures, videos, and thorough notes about the hazard that caused the fall, the time and date of the fall, and any warning signs that may have been in place prior to the accident.

If you have been injured or in an accident caused by another person’s failure to clear ice or snow from their vehicle, you may be entitled to damages. Call Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers to learn more about your rights. Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is one of Connecticut’s top accident and injury law firms that has successfully protected the interests of clients across the state.

Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is committed to fighting for clients who have suffered personal injuries. The experienced firm has handled thousands of cases and Jonathan Perkins has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers represents clients in practice areas including auto accidents, product liability, dog bites, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, premises liability, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, workers’ compensation injuries, employment discrimination and Social Security claims. Se habla Español. For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, visit www.800perkins.com or call 1-800-PERKINS.