Now is the time of year when many homeowners bring together coworkers, friends and neighbors for holiday parties. While holiday parties can be fun, it's important to keep your guests safe. Hazardous conditions at holiday parties can leave you liable for injuries that occur on your property. Of course you'll want to thoroughly ice and shovel your walkway and porch stairs before guests arrive. However, there's more to keeping guests safe than removing ice from the sidewalk. The ice and darkness of winter can create hazards on your property that can cause accidents in a variety of ways. The following tips will help ensure that your guests won't injure themselves.
Limit Guest Access to the Safest Parts of Your Yard
Allow guests access to only those parts of your property that have been de-iced. To keep your guests in the right place, set up a string of holiday garlands that will establish an obvious pathway where your guests can walk. To make things more clear, place signs around the strings of garland with arrows indicating that guests should walk on the path only.
Keep Extension Cords Off Of Guest Walkways
Route extension cords for holiday decorations so they won't cross over the path. If extension cords must cross over the path where guests will walk, use covers to prevent them from becoming tripping hazards.
Knock Down Icicles Near Guest Walkways
Falling icicles can be a hazard for guests walking beneath the eaves of your house. Knock down icicles ahead of time to prevent injuries.
Keep the Pathway Well-lit
Holiday lights aren't always bright enough to keep pathways well lit. Examine your yard in the dark a few nights before your event. Look for areas on the pathway that aren't well lit or that fall into shadow, then set up bright exterior lights or more holiday lights until those areas are also well lit.
Keep Pets Away from the Front Door
Anxious or excitable dogs that like to greet guests enthusiastically can create hazards by simply running out onto the lawn when guests arrive. Even small dogs can cause guests to trip and fall into the snow or onto the sidewalk. Keep your pet in a bedroom or basement area of the house as guests are arriving.
Protecting your guests is an important part of enjoying your holidays. However, sometimes despite your best efforts, accidents can happen. If one of your guests is injured on your property, you may need an attorney to protect you and your property. When this happens, contact a trial lawyer in your community.
