The holiday season is upon us once again. It is cold outside, and many of us are making travel plans to visit friends and family and putting together shopping lists to buy gifts for those we love.
While the holiday season is a time to relax, enjoy time with loved ones and revel in Denver’s winter landscape, it is also a time to be cautious. Unfortunately, accidents can (and do) happen year-round, and certain risks become even more prevalent during the winter months.
Holiday Season Risks for Slips, Trips and Falls
The following are six potential concerns for slip, trip and fall accidents during the holiday season:
1. Parking Lots
Parking lots are more crowded during the holiday season, and snow and ice can make walking in busy parking lots especially dangerous. Business and property owners must remove snow and treat parking lot surfaces to adequately mitigate slip hazards, and drivers need to be careful to avoid putting pedestrians in harm’s way.
2. Sidewalks
Sidewalks can present additional slip, trip and fall risks during the holiday season as well. Snow and ice are factors on sidewalks just the same as parking lots, and hidden risks – such as steps, curbs and tree roots – can cause unexpected falls with the potential for serious injuries.
3. Escalators
Escalators require routine maintenance, and there are various issues that can increase the risk of slips, trips and falls on escalators during the holidays. Heavy use during holiday shopping can cause malfunctions, and slippery treads and overcrowding can increase fall risks as well.
4. Slippery Floors and Stairs
In bad weather, entryways to stores and restaurants can become very slippery, and melting snow and ice can spread slip-and-fall risks throughout supermarkets, shopping centers and other facilities. Once again, business and property owners have a responsibility to ensure their guests’ safety, and inadequate cleaning and maintenance can establish liability for fall-related injuries.
5. Maintenance Issues
The risks associated with maintenance issues – such as failure to replace worn flooring materials or repair cracked steps or sidewalks – can become greater during the holiday season. Snow and ice accumulation can obscure dangers outside, while crowds can make it more difficult to spot potential hazards indoors.
6. Shopping Crowds
Even when weather and premises-related factors are not at play, crowded shopping areas can present risks for injuries from falls. From accidental bumps to pushing and stampeding when stores open, collisions with other shoppers can potentially lead to severe injuries.
Regardless of what happened, if you were injured while shopping in Denver, you owe it to yourself to speak with a personal injury attorney. Your injuries could have significant financial and non-financial consequences; and, if someone else was to blame, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your injury-related losses. Learn more: 7 Ways You Can Help With Your Personal Injury Claim.
Speak With a Denver Personal Injury Attorney for Free
If you were injured in an accident and would like more information about your legal rights, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Levine Law, please call 303-333-8000 or request an appointment online today.
