Each year, Chicagoans face bone-chilling cold, snow, and wind. Against storms that shut down schools, close businesses, knock out power, and more, snowblower injury is hardly on the list of concerns. But considering Chicagoans are stuck shifting an average of 38.4 inches of snowfall each year, per the National Weather Service, an emergency room trip courtesy of snowblowing is more common than you might think.
How heavy wet snow leads to hand injuries and worse
Snowblowers present a peculiar risk to the novice. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, snowblowers are responsible for many emergency room visits and 1,000 amputations per year. In 2021, there were an estimated 110,900 winter related injuries. More specifically, the Commission reported that there were over “4,200 snowblower related injuries treated in the ER with over 40 percent of those injuries to the wrist, hand, and fingers.” Snowblowers are the fourth leading cause of finger amputation; many doctors see the most patients after the first big snowfall of the year. Inexperienced snowblower operators will try to unclog the auger manually, and get a hand caught up in the blades in the process. Never put hands or feet anywhere near the opening of a snowblower.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 19 reports of deaths from snowblower accidents dating back to 1992. Causes of death range from people getting stuck in the machine itself, carbon monoxide poisoning from snow blowers started in the garage, and slipping near the machine causing injury. Snowblower injuries range in type and severity too: The National Health Institute reports that the most common injuries are fractures (25.3%), laceration (20.0%), strain/sprain (14.8%), amputation (10.9%), contusion or abrasion, and in severe cases, death.
It is increasingly important, in light of the peril snowblowers pose, to take precautions to avoid catastrophe.
- When operating a snowblower, make sure that there are no obstacles in your path, and that the chute is pointed away from people and valuable property.
- When starting a snowblower, always make sure you are outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- In order to avoid entanglement, be sure to stay away from steep slopes that could cause the snowblower to come back at you.
- Never leave your snowblower running unattended.
While these may sound like common-sense procedures, many people in a rush to get out of the cold do not take the time to ensure they are operating safely. Furthermore, while these instructions are helpful, they are no substitute for reading the instruction manual for your machine.
What to do when someone else causes a snowblower injury
Even taking the necessary precautions, there are some times when snowblowers are defective. If you have sustained an injury from a defective snowblower, you will need to prove (a) that the snowblower was defective when it came into your possession and (b) the said defect caused your injury.
Also, there are times when snowblowers injure someone other than the owner. For instance, a negligent operator could throw rocks and debris which cause injury to another. Alternatively, a child could become trapped in an unattended snowblower. In these cases, you need to show that the owner/operator (a) breached a duty of care by failing to operate the machine in a reasonable manner, (b) these actions caused your injuries and (c) your injuries warrant damages.
While snowblowers can be a convenient tool in Chicago’s unique tundra, one must exercise care when using them. Establishing liability in a snow blower accident can be more complex than it appears, and it may be necessary to contact an attorney if you have been injured by a snowblower. The team at Dolan Legal have weathered not only the storms but also the complex legal battles in accident law.
Written by George King, Law Clerk for Dolan Law