Preventing Slip-and-Fall Injuries During New Hampshire Winters

Why Winter Falls Are So Dangerous

Slip-and-fall injuries spike during New Hampshire winters, and they are far from trivial — falls cause broken hips, wrists, and ankles, head injuries, and back damage, especially for older adults. A single fall on ice can mean surgery and months of recovery.

Protect Yourself

Wear footwear with good traction and consider ice cleats for icy conditions. Walk slowly with short steps, keep your hands free for balance, and use handrails. Watch for black ice on walkways, parking lots, and building entrances, and assume shaded or recently melted-and-refrozen surfaces are slick.

Property Owners Have Duties Too

While individuals should be careful, property owners — businesses, landlords, and municipalities — have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to address ice and snow. When an owner ignores a known hazard or fails to clear it in a reasonable time, an injured visitor may have a premises liability claim. Your caution and their duty are not mutually exclusive.

If You Fall

Get medical care, report the fall to the property owner, photograph the hazard before it melts, and gather witness information. New Hampshire's comparative negligence rule means partial fault doesn't necessarily bar recovery, so don't assume you have no claim.