Article by Sonia Aeitan, Solicitor and Head of Personal Injury and Medical Negligence at Fountain Solicitors
As the weather turns colder and brings with it ground ice, the risk of slips and trips occurring heightens – and according to statistics during 2015 / 2016 there were in excess of 4,000 admissions to hospitals throughout the UK following slips and trips on snow and ice.
Each winter the number of slips and trips resulting in accidents increases due to the wintery conditions such as snow, ice, and leaves on the path, and less daylight. However, with the increased risk of slips occurring, it is important that steps are taken to ensure your own safety when out and about – and for businesses to reduce the risks faced by their employees.
One way in which businesses are able to reduce the risk of slips and trips on ice, is to assess which areas used by pedestrians are likely to be affected by ice, and then to take precautionary measures to reduce the impact, such as gritting the area.
In addition to gritting the areas, warning signs should also be used, altering employees and visitors of the potential risk of slipping on the surface underfoot; failure to take precautions to ensure pathways in and around the workplace are safe, could lead to personal injury claims being made against the business.
For those who have been injured in a slip or trip following a fall, whether due to wintery conditions or uneven surfaces, if it can be proven that the accident could have been prevented, had precautions been taken by those who own the land, then you may be entitled to make a claim – and our personal injury solicitors in Walsall can assist.
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