Springtime in Illinois is more than a little magical. Not only does the world bloom before one’s very eyes, individuals who have long been stuck indoors start to venture out again. Although everyone perceives the burdens of winter to some degree or another, individuals who have limited mobility or who otherwise cannot easily travel on snow and ice tend to feel the brunt of the winter months more than most. As a result, these individuals tend to be particularly eager to get out in the spring. However, they need to take certain precautions to avoid slip-and-fall injuries when they do.
Slip and Fall Accidents Can Happen When Property Owners Are Negligent
Most people are cognizant of winter slip-and-fall hazards. However, less attention is given to the kinds of conditions that pedestrians and other non-motorized travelers encounter when moving from here to there in the springtime.
As a result, it is important when traveling by foot to regularly return your gaze to the ground in front of you. Otherwise, you may not notice that the sidewalk is cracked, that rain or runoff has started to turn to ice as the temperature drops (yet again) to freezing, or that tree roots and other plant-based life that has not been addressed since the autumn is creating a slipping hazard in your path. Additionally, you will want to take particular care when entering a building, as moisture and mud tracked in by others’ shoes could make surfaces unusually slippery.
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