Identity Theft

Those looking to ban snowball fights are usually branded as old curmudgeons with nothing better to do, but today’s accident claim culture means it might be worth thinking twice before throwing a compacted little ball of the white stuff.

Making an accident claim after being hit by a snowball may appear perverse; however, in the wrong situation, a snowball can cause real damage.

Causing Direct Harm

Snowball fights usually conjure an image of harmless winter fun; this isn’t always the case. There are situations where snowballing could result in a serious accident, with a realistic chance of the victim winning a compensation claim. Serious injuries were caused by a snowball in Scotland recently, when it smashed the windscreen of a bus.

If you pack a snowball too tightly, it forms an ice ball. This is where an accident is most likely to happen as the snowball (if thrown hard enough) can penetrate materials such as glass. Ice balls can cause real damage to the human face if they hit cleanly.

An unprovoked snowball attack on an elderly citizen may be deeply traumatic if they are taken by surprise. A severe attack will leave an elderly person scared to leave their homes, giving them a real case for an accident claim.

Is Duty Of Care Involved?

A blanket ban has been imposed in some schools because of the accident claim risk snowballing poses. Some argue that when schools allow snowballs they forgo the duty of care they have for their pupils.

Schools ignore the cries of ‘party poopers’ by some parents, claiming the risk of a personal injury claim leaves them with no other option.

So, although it is unlikely solicitors will be inundated with an avalanche of snowball accident claims this Christmas, in certain situations there will be an accident claim made as a result of a snowballing.

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