BLOG NUMBER 11.72
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” – Carl Reiner
Mr. Reiner is right. Cold weather and snow are something to look forward to for millions of people who love to ski, skate, or sled down their favorite hill. For others, it’s a dreaded curse. It means shoveling snow, sliding all over the road in their car, or slipping on a sidewalk and falling. Like anything in life, there’s a good side and a bad side.
Whether you love it or hate it, snow is something you’ll have to deal with if you live in the North. And if you’re a homeowner or business owner, you have to do more than just deal with it. You need to plan, prepare, and take action to remove snow and ice in areas where someone could slip, fall, and get injured.
Most people are comfortable shoveling some snow off the sidewalks. They also throw around a little salt to safeguard their premises from mishaps. Maybe they hire a kid down the street to shovel and salt but if he or she forgets, oh well. Hopefully no one will slip. That’s not a very wise course of action.
According to the CDC, the number one cause of unintentional injuries in 2015 was “unintentional falls.” It’s estimated that nearly 50% of those were caused by snow or ice. The monetary damages from hospital bills, rehabilitation, and long-term care, pain, and suffering.
Most communities have standards set by municipalities for the proper care of premises, especially commercial properties. There are also standards for “reasonable due care and caution” in courts across the country. These standards are very important in civil cases involving claims for damages. Every state has statutes related to “premises liability.” If you’re not familiar with them, we hope you never have to learn about them as a defendant in a lawsuit.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is an axiom attributed not to Carl Reiner but to Benjamin Franklin, and it’s a good one everyone should keep in mind. If you own a business, we recommend consulting with someone who has the knowledge and expertise to guide you. They can advise you on the best ways to prepare and prevent accidents on your premises.
Sidewalk Snow Expert Witness
Mr. Jeremy Swenson has been advising businesses on proper snow and ice safety plans for over 10 years. He also helps them understand how to execute those plans effectively. He is the owner of one of the largest snow removal companies in the mid-west and he has acted as an expert witness in many legal actions involving slip and fall accidents. Reaching out to Mr. Swenson is easy, just dial (816) 564-9131 and Mr. Swenson will arrange a free and confidential consultation. Get in touch today!
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