Personal Injury Risks in the Winter

Posted on December 5, 2019 in Personal Injury

Some personal injury risks can happen at any time of the year—but there are others that are seasonal, or more common in certain seasons. Our winters here in Alabama might not be as severe as other areas of the United States, but the cold weather can bring on new personal injury risks that it’s important to be aware of. 

Freezing Temperatures

It doesn’t happen very often down here, but every now and then, the temperature dips into the 30s—and sometimes below freezing. With all the rain we get in the winter, this can be a dangerous combination. If you get into a car accident when conditions are icy, the other person could be held liable for failing to adjust their driving to the conditions. On the other hand, make sure that you are adjusting your driving to the conditions as well, so you aren’t held liable in a car accident. For example, you should reduce your speed, increase your stopping distance, etc. 

Slip and fall accidents are also extremely common this time of year, and you may have a claim for negligence if you slip and fall on someone else’s property. Slip and fall accidents are more complicated than most people think—it’s important to note that ice being present on someone’s property is not enough to have a claim. You would also need to prove that A) the property’s owner knew, or should have known, that conditions on their property were dangerous and B) that the property’s owner could have reasonably taken some action to address the situation. 

For example, you might be able to hold a retailer liable for your injuries if you slipped and fell on some ice in their parking lot. They should have known that their parking lot was dangerous for their customers, and they easily could have addressed the situation but didn’t. 

Again, slip and fall accidents are very common but also very complicated. If you think you may have a claim, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it. 

Decreased Visibility

Although we get ice occasionally, Alabama winters are mostly rain and fog. The days are shorter, and it gets dark much faster this time of year. That means significantly decreased visibility on the road. You might notice that the sun is setting now as you’re leaving work, making it difficult to see the car in front of you. Drivers failing to take these changes into consideration translates to a lot more rear-end collisions and car accidents overall. 

Failing to account for decreased visibility, or any kind of weather condition, is considered negligence. If another person was driving unsafely for the weather conditions at the time of your accident, they could be held accountable for your injuries. 

Not sure whether you have a claim or not? Contact Wettermark Keith today, and get some answers.