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Snow Days Are Fun — Until Winter Hazards Cause Preventable Injuries
Fresh snow and icy mornings might mean sledding and snowball fights for kids, but winter weather also creates serious safety risks at schools and bus stops. Each year, children are injured in slip and fall accidents, playground incidents, and drop-off zone crashes caused by untreated snow and ice.
While some winter accidents are unavoidable, others happen because dangerous conditions were not properly addressed. In certain cases, schools or municipalities may be responsible for failing to keep areas reasonably safe. Below, our friends at KBD Attorneys discuss the risk of injury at schools in the winter.
Where Winter School Injuries Happen Most
Children don’t just stay inside during winter — they walk into school buildings, play outside at recess, and wait at bus stops. That movement creates multiple opportunities for weather-related injuries.
Common winter danger zones include:
- Icy school steps and entryways
- Snow-covered playground equipment
- Slippery blacktop surfaces and basketball courts
- Untreated sidewalks leading to school buildings
- Bus loading and drop-off areas with packed snow or ice
Because kids often run, play, and carry backpacks that affect balance, even a small icy patch can lead to a serious fall.
Playground Injuries Increase in Cold Weather
Playgrounds can become especially hazardous after a winter storm. Snow may hide uneven surfaces, ice can form on climbing structures and slides, and frozen ground reduces shock absorption during falls.
Younger children may not recognize slippery hazards, making supervision and maintenance even more important. When schools fail to close unsafe play areas or remove obvious ice buildup, preventable injuries can happen.
School Drop-Off and Bus Zones Are Major Risk Areas
Winter injuries don’t just happen on playgrounds. School parking lots and bus zones are some of the most dangerous places during icy weather.
Hazards often include:
- Vehicles sliding on untreated pavement
- Children slipping while exiting cars or buses
- Snowbanks blocking visibility for drivers
- Narrow walking paths carved through deep snow
Schools and local governments typically share responsibility for maintaining these areas, depending on who owns and manages the property.
Can a School Be Liable for a Winter Injury?
Public schools and school districts have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep students safe, including addressing dangerous winter conditions. This may involve:
- Salting and clearing walkways
- Inspecting playgrounds for ice hazards
- Closing unsafe outdoor areas
- Maintaining safe traffic flow in drop-off zones
- Coordinating with municipalities for sidewalk and road treatment
If school officials knew — or should have known — about a dangerous icy condition and failed to act, there may be grounds for a school winter injury claim.
What About Bus Stops and Sidewalks?
Liability for injuries at bus stops often depends on location. Some sidewalks and roads fall under city or town responsibility, while others may be maintained by the school district.
If a child is injured due to untreated ice at a bus stop, determining who was responsible for maintaining that area is a key legal question.
Common Winter Injuries Among Students
Because children are still developing physically, winter falls can lead to significant injuries, including:
- Wrist and arm fractures from bracing during falls
- Head injuries and concussions
- Back and tailbone injuries
- Cuts and facial injuries from icy surfaces
Even injuries that seem minor at first can lead to long-term complications if not properly treated.
What Parents Should Do After a School Winter Injury
If a child is hurt in a winter-related accident at school or a bus stop:
- Seek medical attention right away
- Take photos of the icy or snowy hazard if possible
- Report the incident to the school and request a written report
- Get names of any staff or witnesses
- Keep records of medical visits and missed school days
Because claims involving schools and municipalities often have shorter legal deadlines, a personal injury lawyer will always emphasize that documenting the incident quickly is especially important.
Winter Weather Doesn’t Eliminate Safety Responsibilities
Snow and ice are part of winter, but preventable injuries don’t have to be. Schools and local governments are expected to take reasonable precautions to protect children from known hazards. When they fail to do so, families may have the right to seek answers — and accountability.
As winter continues, awareness of these risks can help parents, schools, and communities work together to keep kids safer both in and out of the classroom.