Legal News

Keep Yourself Safe during the Winter Season

The winter season can make for very treacherous conditions and hidden dangers, whether you are driving, taking a walk through the neighborhood or just staying at home. Here at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, we would like to share with you some ways to protect yourself from serious injury during the wintertime.

SAFE DRIVING IS KEY

With the winter season underway, there are many dangers on the road that can cause injury to yourself and your loved ones. If you have watched the news, you have probably seen images of multi-car pileups snarling traffic for miles, many of these crashes resulting in the injuries or deaths of those involved.

Here are some tips to stay safe behind the wheel during the winter:

• Apply the gas and the brake slowly. Accelerating at a slow rate of speed helps regain traction and avoid skids. For braking, it is best to keep the heel of your foot on the floor and the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Increase the following distance of the vehicle in front of you to eight to 10 seconds. Unlike driving on dry road conditions, you will need more time to stop in the event the roads are covered in ice and snow or the vehicle in front of you suddenly stops. Never use cruise control on any slippery surfaces.
• When driving on a highway, stay in the lane that has been most recently cleared. If possible, avoid changing lanes, especially if those lanes have snow already built up on them. The snow may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Do not go out in extreme weather conditions unless you absolutely have to. If you are out on the road, drive at a low speed and keep your headlights on low beam. If conditions get worse, pull off to a safe place as soon as possible.
• Most importantly, always wear a seat belt. There is no better season to wear one than the wintertime.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Like drivers, pedestrians must keep themselves safe, whether they are walking on a sidewalk or crossing the street. When crossing the street, pedestrians do have the right of way, but they still must obey the rules and be aware of their surroundings. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian deaths accounted for 14% of all traffic-related fatalities.

To keep yourself safe, please follow these tips:

• In cold temperatures, the pavement can freeze over, so it is best to wear snow boots or winter boots with thick rubber soles for traction. These types of footwear will keep you from slipping and falling on frozen surfaces.
• Be sure to follow traffic signals, especially “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signs. If you have a “Don’t Walk” sign and there are no vehicles approaching, do not try to cross the street. A car, truck, van or bus may soon approach the intersection and see the green light, but may not see you until it is too late.
• Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to where you are going. Avoid using your cell phone, listening to music on your headphones or checking text messages while walking, especially when crossing the street. Noise-cancelling headphones will prevent you from listening for oncoming traffic.
• Wear brightly colored clothing during the day so that you are visible, but more importantly, put on reflective or lightly colored clothing at night. The NHTSA says that 32% of all pedestrian fatalities happen between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. To stay visible, walk in well-lit areas, especially when crossing the street.
• Avoid consuming alcohol. It impairs your balance, reflexes and decision-making skills. Half of all traffic crashes involving the death of a pedestrian is alcohol-related, with 34% of those incidents being on the part of the pedestrian.

STAYING WARM — AND SAFE

When the weather outside is frightful, there is nothing better for some people than staying inside wrapped in a blanket, sitting by the fireplace and drinking hot chocolate. But sometimes, a winter wonderland can become a wintertime nightmare: tons of snow in front of the door so you can’t get out, freezing temperatures and winds bringing down power lines and cutting off heat in the house.

You can find ways to stay warm but you need to be careful as well. Here are some pointers to keep you protected from the elements — and from injury:

• When using space heaters, keep flammable materials such as newspapers and blankets at least three feet away. In the event of loss of power and you need to use a fireplace or wood stove, keep these heat sources clear of any combustible materials. Never use a gas stove to keep a house warm; the family may be overcome by the fumes and, if ignited, it may cause a fire or an explosion.
• Use a battery-powered flashlight or light source during a blackout. If you must use candles, please keep them with you at all times. Keep them away from children and pets, as they may accidentally knock them over, causing a fire.
• Do not start your car inside a closed garage, as the exhaust fumes will suffocate those inside the house. If the car is outside the house, check to see that the exhaust pipes are clear of snow before starting the car.
• If you must go outside, dress in layers to avoid catching a cold and developing frostbite.
• When doing chores outside in the snow, such as shoveling the driveway, be sure to do them slowly. Many people want to get the driveways dug out as soon as possible, but the pressure to complete the task — and the weight of the snow being shoveled — may send people into cardiac arrest, which can result in death.

If you suffer an injury during the wintertime, whether you are walking or driving down the road or if you become seriously injured at home, please contact a personal injury attorney immediately.