Painful Slip and Fall Accidents Spike in San Antonio
Firefighters in San Antonio reported that they’ve seen a spike in slip-and-fall accidents due to winter weather conditions.
Unfortunately, slip-and-fall incidents can lead to serious pain and injury, especially when property owners fail to take proper precautions to protect you from slippery walkways and surfaces.
San Antonio Reports Slip-and-Fall Accident Increase
With winter conditions sweeping across the country, San Antonio firefighters and health officials are warning residents that simply walking outside could present a significant danger. Firefighters say that they’ve received a large number of emergency calls related to falls throughout the city.
Emergency rooms in the city also saw a significant increase of slip-and-fall victims, according to one San Antonio health system. Injuries from these incidents ranged from minor bumps and scrapes to fractures and concussions.
Health officials also mentioned hospitals receiving an influx of patients suffering from exposure and hypothermia. Healthcare workers reportedly worked through the night rather than risk the walk or commute home.
With winter temperatures predicted to remain low over the next few days, the ice in San Antonio and elsewhere in Texas is unlikely to melt any time soon. Until it does, residents should take extra care when walking on slippery surfaces.
Some tips include avoiding uneven surfaces and curbs and walking as flat-footed as possible.
The Impact of a Slip-and-Fall Accident
Most of us wouldn’t expect a fall on the ice to be as severe as a car crash, but a study conducted by Brigham Young University found that slip-and-falls on ice can be as painful as being in a car accident. Not only that, but these injuries also have the potential to be life-altering.
In fact, half of all fatalities at home are caused by falls , usually at ground level. Only some of those falls would be categorized as slip-and-falls, yet statistics show the potential dangers of this kind of accident.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that slip-and-fall incidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. While ice-related incidents only make up a portion of these injuries, the dangerous conditions presented by winter weather increase the likelihood that a person will slip.
Who Can Be Held Liable
If you slip and fall while on someone else’s property, you may be owed compensation. This is because the owners of commercial property are responsible for maintaining a reasonable level of safety for guests. In the wintertime, this may include ice removal, snow shoveling, or sidewalk salting.
In order to hold a property owner liable for your injuries, however, you will need to prove that they were aware of or should have been aware of the hazard and failed to address it. Proving this can be difficult, especially in Texas where icy conditions are less common.
Because of these challenges, seeking the input of an experienced personal injury attorney could be essential for receiving the financial relief you need.
If you’ve been involved in a slip-and-fall where greater precautions should have been taken by property owners, contact the Houston personal injury attorneys Lapeze and Johns, PLLC , to determine if you might be owed compensation.
Source : KSAT
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