Common Winter Injuries: Avoid Becoming a Cold Weather Casualty

There’s a lot to love about winter – whether it’s getting out in the snow with the kids, going for bracing walks in the cold or enjoying more time indoors without needing an excuse.

But winter can also present certain risks to your health.

The cold months bring with them weather that many of us take a while to get used to. Every year, the snow flurries and icy surfaces can take us by surprise.

And that can lead to accidents and injuries.

Here’s our guide to staying safe in winter and avoiding a frosty fall.

Watch out for weather

The weather may be the biggest threat to our safety in winter. General life can become a little more difficult when it’s cold – and we don’t just mean the higher energy bills.

Slipping on ice can be a particular threat in winter. It’s the sort of accident that can cause several different injuries.

Just some of those include:

• Broken and fractured bones
• Bruises
• Ligament and tendon damage
• Pulled muscles
• Sprains

In most cases, a slip on ice will be unavoidable – just one of those things. But there are cases where you might be able to claim compensation for an injury after such a slip. This could include a business letting a spill in their premises freeze over without trying to clear it or letting people know it’s there.

Ice and snow can also present a risk when you’re driving. Don’t forget to look out for black ice and take extra care in snow – particularly when other drivers don’t always do so.

Take care in the dark

The sun rises later and sets earlier in winter. This means that rush hour is often spent in the dark.

When you’re driving in the cold and dark, it’s vital to everything you can to keep yourself and other road users safe.

One of the most important things you can do is to maintain your car. The better the condition it’s in, the safer you’ll generally be. Pay special attention to your tyres, brakes, lights, windscreens and windows.

It may also be worth getting your eyes tested – even if you don’t have a history of sight problems. Making sure you can see properly will help when the sunlight fades.

You may also want to keep a pair of glasses in your car, if you wear them. That will help ensure you always have them when you need them. And with the sun sitting lower in the sky over winter, it can also help to keep a pair of sunglasses in your car to prevent being dazzled on those rare sunny days.

Get active – safely

It’s unlikely that with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people will be taking part in the kind of winter sports in the numbers they once did. Skiing and snowboarding abroad are off the agenda for many – but not everyone.

With indoor – and outdoor – slopes still operating in the UK, it’s still possible to take part in these activities this winter.

If they’re new to you – perhaps your New Year’s resolution was to get out of your comfort zone – then it’s vital to pay close attention to the safety information your instructor provides. And if they don’t give you any sort of safety demonstration or briefing, it might not be the safest thing to do.

But it’s not just extreme sports that could be risky in winter. Your morning jog or walk with the dog can be more dangerous in the dark – especially if you’re near cars. Wearing reflective clothing and keeping distractions – like music – to a minimum can help you stay safe.

If you are hurt in any kind of accident on the road, you could be able to make a compensation claim. And First4Lawyers could help you do it.

To find out what you could be entitled to for an injury, visit our compensation calculator.

And to talk to our expert team about what we can do for you, just give us a call or start your claim online.