It sounds crazy that you could get seriously injured by a falling branch or a tree. Surprisingly enough, it is possible. With nearly 247 billion trees in the United States that are over 1 inch in diameter, these types of injuries are bound to happen. In fact, two jobs that involve working with trees - logging and landscaping supervisors - are among the most dangerous jobs in the country. But not only do these kinds of workers get injured by trees and falling branches, the average person does too.
Why Trees Fall and Lose Branches
Trees often topple over or lose large branches during storms that produce high winds. During hurricane Sandy in 2012, nearly 8,500 trees toppled over in New York City alone. But besides high winds, trees can also fall and lose their branches when snow is too heavy or ice gets too thick. Other reasons trees can topple include:
Some types of trees, like Balsam Fir, white spruce, willow, and Cedar are more susceptible than others for falling. This is especially true for trees growing in wet areas. Another reason trees tend to topple over is because their environment has recently changed.
Tree-Related Injuries
It can be completely unpredictable when a tree will suddenly topple over or lose a large branch. When they fall in a densely populated area, there is a good chance the tree will fall on a car, house, or a walkway. If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you get could sustain a serious injury. Serious head and neck injuries can occur because of a falling tree or large branch. Other injuries might include scrapes and bruises and deep cuts that may require stitches.
What To Do If You Are Injured
If you happen to get injured in a tree-related incident and you can prove it was the fault of someone else, you should contact a personal injury law firm. If a home owner, business owner, or government agency did not properly care for a tree that fell and caused an injury, the people responsible for managing the tree can be held responsible. If you did nothing to cause getting injured by a tree or branch, you just might have a case.
For more information, check out sites like https://grdlaw.com/.
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