Our Winter Weather Safety Guide
The recent polar vortex blanketed the greater Washington DC metro area in snow and ice and ground the city to a halt. Many stayed indoors, keeping warm, working remotely and riding out the blizzard. Others opted for winter fun, such as the communal snowball fight at Dupont Circle. However, we here at Malloy Law Offices were left to ponder the level of preparedness for winter weather among our community. DC boasts a large community of transplants who may be unaware of the risks posed by heavy snowfall and unsure of how to navigate the risks posed by slippery roads and sidewalks. While the plows and shovelers work to clear the roads, more snow seems to be on the way. We’d like to offer our expertise in wintry conditions to our blog’s readers. We’ll be tackling the issue of winter weather safety today.
Personal Preparedness Prevents Peril
Regardless of your personal living situation, basic provisions, tools, and supplies can go a long way towards avoiding uncomfortable situations in the event of heavy snowfall. Most of these are shelf-stable indefinitely and can be acquired for cheap.
In advance of a predicted severe snowstorm, it’s wise to ensure that your household has access to the following:
- Food
- Drinking Water
- Rock Salt for Exterior Stairs, Walkways, Parking Lots, Et Cetera.
- A Snow Shovel
- Weather-Appropriate Clothing, Including:
- Coat
- Warm Gloves
- Warm Hat
- Insulated, Water-Resistant Boots, with Appropriate Traction
- Sweaters
- Thermal Undergarments
- Thermal Socks
- Blankets
- Snow Brush and Ice Scraper for use on Car Windows and other Vehicle Surfaces
- Space Heater
- Generator
We All Need Somebody To Lean On
This is an exhaustive list, bordering on excessive. But every bit helps. In extraordinary circumstances, it is often wise to cultivate community. Know who can offer help and what your winter weather safety responsibilities may be. If you live in a condominium or town house, you may be able to ask your landlord or property manager for assistance. Communal shovels and rock salt may be distributed ahead of the snowfall. In the event of a furnace failure or power outage, these same resources may be able to procure generators or space heaters for your home. These people may also be able to inform your of your personal responsibilities. You may be charged with clearing and salting the walkway leading to your door, for example. In more tightly-packed urban environments, localized community organizations may elect “block captains” or other informal leaders to organize snow clearance efforts. Pitching in and doing your part helps both yourself and your neighbors.
Winter Weather Safety on the Roads
In the event of heavy snowfall, the best advice we can give in regards to driving is simply: “don’t.” Staying off the roads is the best way to avoid injury when conditions render them hazardous, hence the importance of advance preparedness. However, many of us will never have this option. Those among us whose jobs require their presence at a physical location will have to brave the elements and drive in slippery conditions.
For those drivers, we recommend the following:
- A vehicle with 4 wheel or all-wheel drive
- Snow tires or snow chains for improved traction
- Some granular material (such as cat litter) to improve traction in the event that your vehicle becomes stuck on a snowbank.
In the event that conditions worsen to the point where driving is simply impossible, it is understandable to abandon the vehicle and seek shelter elsewhere until conditions improve. However, we recommend exiting any major throughfares or highways before leaving one’s vehicle. An abandoned car left on a busy highway may become a grave hazard for other drivers and represent a significant (and expensive) challenge when attempting to retrieve the vehicle.
Common Winter Weather Injuries
As winter weather is a yearly phenomenon in our region, the Malloy Law blog has an extensive back log of posts for your consumption, each tackling a different hazard we may encounter in these winter months. We invite you to peruse our catalog to stay informed and stay safe as more snow is on the way.
Common winter health hazards include:
- Unshoveled Sidewalks – Fresh, soft powder may conceal hard ice patches. Failure to manage ice and snow may lead to injury and leave the property owner liable.
- “Chain Reaction” Car Accidents – Slippery surfaces mean increased stopping distances for cars. Failure to account for this may lead to a rear-end accident which affects multiple cars in densely packed traffic formations.
- Skiing or Snowboarding Injuries – Winter sports are tremendous fun but may also lead to injury. Negligence on the part of ski and snowboard parks and their employees may turn deadly.
- Snowplows – The large vehicles employed by the department of public works and other organizations tasked with snow removal may employe inexperienced operators unaccustomed to the large blind spots present on an industrial grade snowplow or “gritter.” This can lead to severe injuries to drivers and pedestrians.
- Ice Skating Injuries – The DC area boasts a large number of indoor and outdoor ice rinks, failure to manage these facilities properly can mean danger for paying customers.
- Black Ice – Ice patches left to become tarnished and dirty are known as “black ice.” These patches are difficult to spot and may catch pedestrians unaware.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured by another party’s negligence amidst winter weather, Malloy Law can help. Our experienced team of attorneys is home to the region’s personal injury specialists. We’re standing by twenty-four hours a day to hear your case free of charge and craft a plan to win maximum compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait! Contact Malloy Law Offices today and let’s win your case.
