Avoid These Common Ice Fishing Injuries
For many Missouri outdoor enthusiasts, ice fishing is a go-to cold-weather activity where you can get exposed to nature and the excitement of fishing on ice. With that said, there’s always the risk of suffering an injury while out on the ice. Anything from minor cuts with equipment to falling through the ice is surprisingly common. That’s why the Missouri personal injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group are here with the information you need to identify and prepare against some of the most common ice fishing injuries.
1. Falling Through the Ice
Probably the worst and biggest ice fishing hazard faced is falling through the ice into freezing waters, and this often happens with seemingly no warning at all. The ice can turn out to be much weaker in certain areas than others, causing you to fall in. Once you’re submerged, the cold temperature can quickly cause hypothermia, making it difficult to get out of the water. In the worst cases, people have drowned when trapped under the ice or rendered unable to escape the freezing waters.
2. Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Injuries
Slips, trips, and falls are one of the more common types of injuries on the ice. Ice is difficult to navigate in the best of situations, and this becomes much worse when lugging around heavy fishing gear or traversing at high speed across the frozen lake. Often, these falls will cause fractures, sprains, and strains.
3. Cuts, Abrasions, and Hook Injuries
The most common ice fishing injuries are cuts, abrasions, and punctures. These are possible with fishing hooks, lures, or knives used for bait cutting. Besides these, bruises, contusions, and scrapes can also result from falls on the ice. Ice augers can also cause serious cuts and punctures.
4. Heaters and Stove Burns
Although you might not expect it, burns are an incredibly common injury in ice fishing. Most anglers who are ice fishing will use a portable heater, stove, or other heat source inside their shelter to keep them warm. These can easily burn you if you happen to come into contact with them by accident.
5. Cold Thermal Injuries
Frostbite and other cold-related injuries are more common with ice fishing than most generally realize. Prolonged exposure to below-freezing temperatures, along with the wind chill factor, can result in frostbite, which mostly affects the fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
Suffered Ice Fishing Injuries? Contact a Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Today.
Here at Patterson Legal Group, we’re happy to provide the information you need to avoid an ice fishing injury. We’re also here for you if you’ve been hurt while ice fishing due to no fault of your own. Our dedicated team of trial lawyers has a proven track record of success in securing settlements for those hurt in personal injury accidents in Missouri, as well as in Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. We will fight for you every step of the way.
Get started today with a free consultation by calling us at (888) 687-2400 or filling out an encrypted contact form. You can also connect with our LiveChat representatives. We work under a “no win, no fee” promise, so you won’t pay anything unless we win. Reach out today and take the first step towards the money you deserve.
