Black Ice Season Is Here: Watch For A New Haven Slip And Fall Accident

A lot of people talk about the dangers of being a pedestrian when you’re out walking or running in the winter when there is visible snow and ice on the ground, but there is one season that is even worse, black ice season. Black ice can be one of the most dangerous types of weather condition you might face as a pedestrian and if you’re not careful you may wind up experiencing a New Haven slip and fall accident because of this condition.

Before understanding why black ice is so dangerous, it is important to understand exactly what black ice is. There are two characteristics of black ice that make it particularly dangerous and difficult to protect yourself again. The first is that black ice is thin. You are not going to find a patch of black ice that is thick and easy to spot. Secondly, black ice is transparent. When you are walking down a sidewalk or on a road you will not be able to easily see black ice because it is transparent enough that you will see the road or the sidewalk through it. Black ice is caused by freezing rain, melting snow that refreezes again and in some cases by the morning dew that freezes on the streets or sidewalks.

The next thing you should know about black ice is where you are most likely to find it. You will likely not see black ice in areas that get a lot of sunshine because even with cold temperatures, the sun’s temperature will not allow the ice to form. The areas where you may experience the most black ice include shaded areas, Bridges and overpasses and sidewalks that you are passing along during the early morning or late evening hours. This becomes especially dangerous when the path that you are walking on is not well lit and therefore you may experience black ice and approach it before you even know it is there.

A slip and fall accident that happens because of black ice can be quite serious and may put you in a situation where you have lasting or long-term injuries including head trauma and back pain. These types of injuries can stay with your whole life so it is incredibly important to avoid this type of accident at all cost. The good news is that there are ways you can avoid this type of accident with just a few simple things.

1.) Focus on your shoes. In most cases if you are out for a walk you will be wearing either sneakers or boots. This is already a great start to keep you safe from an injury as the result of black ice. However, not all sneakers and boots are made equally. You will want to make sure your shoes are equipped with good traction, this includes shoes that have deep treads or are specifically designed for icy conditions.

2.) When you’re walking you will want to take smaller steps. It can be tempting to take your normal long strides and move fast to get to where you are going, but this could put you at risk. It is more important to arrive at your destination safely then it is to arrive at your destination quickly. If you get injured you may never arrive at your destination. So, you should make sure you are taking small, slow steps so you can adjust your walking pattern if you do come across black ice.

3.) Steady yourself with your hands. Believe it or not, one of the best ways you can stay on two feet when walking is to keep your hands free from carrying anything and keep them out of your pockets. You may find it more comfortable to walk with your hands in your pockets, but when you do that you will lose stability when you trip or slip. If you walk with your hands free you can use them to steady yourself in the event that you do experience a slip.

4.) Be on the lookout. This is one of the most important tips. When you’re walking around it can be easy to take your safety for granted, after all you’ve been walking for a long time now and there really isn’t much to it. However, if you’re not keeping an eye on the sidewalk or road ahead of you you might put yourself in a situation where you don’t see a patch of black ice and you could get swept off your feet (and not in the good sense of the phrase.)

Black ice can be very dangerous and it is not talked about enough. This time of year if you’re not on the lookout for black ice you may be putting yourself at risk of experiencing a New Haven slip and fall accident which could injure you for some time. Take the steps outlined above and you’ll be taking your safety into your own hands. This is the best way you can have a safe and happy “black ice” season.

If you need assistance because you’ve been injured in an accident you may need to speak with an experienced attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.