With the arrival of winter, both employers and employees are being warned about the importance of taking preparatory steps to avoid the consequences of a slip and fall incident.
Approximately eight million emergency room visits per year are due to falls, with 5% of this group experiencing fractures.
Now, more employers are being called upon to do more to reduce the risk of customers and employees sustaining injuries.
Winter is a Nightmare for Slips and Falls
Unsurprisingly, winter is the time of year when the most slop and fall incidents occur.
Garry Salomon, partner and founder of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., spoke from the NJAJ Meadowlands 2019 Conference, where he acted as co-chair of Litigation at Sunrise.
He stated, “Winter is a nightmare for slip and fall incidents. Yet despite the increased risks caused by fewer daylight hours and icy conditions, 100% of incidents are completely avoidable if the appropriate steps are taken.”
Garry warned that employers must be proactive if they’re going to avoid incidents this coming year.
How Employers Can Reduce the Number of Slip and Fall Incidents
Legal professionals state that acting now is much cheaper for employers than being forced to pay compensation to injured parties.
Employers can make a big difference by ensuring that snow and ice are cleared as soon as possible. Placing rock salt on the ground in areas prone to ice can stop people from slipping and injuring themselves.
It’s also recommended that non-slip surfaces are installed throughout high traffic areas, as footwear is often wet at this time of year.
Finally, legal professionals recommend that adequate lighting is placed in and around workplaces. With fewer daylight hours, poor visibility can prevent people from spotting obstacles that may obstruct them.
Why Employers Must Act Now
According to Garry, “Employers must act now because the costs of slip and fall incidents are continuing to escalate. The business world spends $1 billion, on average, every month across the country on these incidents.”
He went on to say, “Ordinary people are increasingly able to access professional legal services. Furthermore, they are becoming more aware of their rights when they experience an injury.”
To find out more about this issue, look at the Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C. website here.
By taking proactive steps, employers can avoid many incidents of this nature.
What Should Employees Do if Involved in a Slip and Fall Incident?
The unified advice from the legal industry is to call a lawyer immediately. They say that New Jersey’s short statute of limitations on claiming through programs like workers’ compensation means there’s no time to waste.
A professional lawyer can take on your case and enable you to focus on your recovery. They’ll handle all communications and all bureaucracy to ensure that your case moves forward, and you get the justice you deserve.
With thousands of people being seriously injured every winter from slip and fall incidents, it’s essential to act quickly. Medical bills are at an all-time high and claiming compensation can ensure those bills are covered.