3 Tips For Properly Maintaining Your Property Following a Snowstorm
“What do you do to stay safe following a snowstorm?”
The first snowfall of winter is always exciting and fun. Once the excitement fades, the storm’s aftermath can become a problem. You are at higher risk of a slip and fall or car accident due to sidewalk snow freezing over, black ice while walking, slippery roads, and other dangerous conditions. If this snow is left on your property or car, you’re not only putting yourself in danger but others as well. As slip and fall lawyers, we know how common these accidents are and how easily they can be prevented.
Contact Flager & Associates today by calling (215) 953-5200. We provide free case evaluations.
Follow these three tips to avoid winter storm accidents and prevent one from happening on your property:
- Shovel your entire property. While shoveling a path from your door to your car may seem like the easiest process after a snowstorm, it’s not the safest. If you leave snow on your sidewalk or driveway, it may melt during the day and refreeze at night, causing icy, dangerous conditions. If you live in Philadelphia, you may have a sidewalk that slopes toward the street. Avoid leaving snow on the side of your house, and make sure you shovel the entire sidewalk. You should clear a wide enough path to traverse so anyone who walks by won’t have to worry about a potential slip and fall accident.
- Salt regularly in the days after a storm. People are generally good about shoveling and salting the first day of a snowstorm, but most slip and falls take place in the days following a storm. The snow may thaw during the day and refreeze at night, so you need to be diligent about salting and shoveling even when the storm is over. Snow and ice may melt even if the temperature doesn’t go above freezing, due to the power of the sun’s rays. To keep your property free and clear from ice, make sure you regularly inspect your property for potential trouble spots and reapply salt at night before a refreeze occurs and again in the morning.
- Clear off your car before driving. Clearing your car off is one of the basic responsibilities of owning and operating a vehicle. And we’re not just talking about your front windshield. You need to clean off the top, hood, rear windshield, and trunk of your car too. Leaving snow on any part of your vehicle is extremely dangerous. Every year, car crashes occur because of snow and ice that fly off cars, especially trucks, and hit other cars. The time you spend clearing your vehicle of snow can be the difference between an accident and no accident. Additionally, it is the law! As of July 11, 2022, drivers are required to remove ice or snow from their vehicles within 24 hours following heavy snow or ice. This law is named “Christine’s Law” and is in memory of Christine Lambert. Christine Lambert died on Christmas Day in 2005 after a large piece of ice slid off a truck and crashed through her windshield.
In the video below, Adam Flager provides his tips on how to properly maintain your property after a snowstorm:
When you follow these winter storm safety tips, you’re not only protecting your property, but you’re ensuring the safety of yourself and others. If you or a loved one was injured in a winter storm-related slip and fall or car accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Flager & Associates today by calling (215) 953-5200. We provide free case evaluations.
Resources:
