Snowy Winters and Accidents: A Legal Perspective

Though we all look forward to a White Christmas and enjoy the winter snows, statistics show that a large percentage of motor accidents are weather-related events and most of these happen in winter when it's snowing. Drivers are extra careful during adverse weather conditions and most of them take care to drive slower and more carefully, pay heed to warning signs and ensure that they don't drive if they've consumed alcohol. However, accidents can and do happen and most of them are caused by the fault or negligence of someone. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident or collision during winter snows, it's crucial that you get immediate medical attention. The next step is to inform the police and your insurance company. Another important thing to do is to contact an accident injury lawyer available 24x7 and get legal advice as soon as possible.

How Snow and Adverse Weather Events Affect Driving

Fatal crashes that cause catastrophic injuries or even death can result from accidents on icy roads, with poor visibility and foggy conditions. Rain, sleet and snow can cause slushy conditions, wet and icy pavements may cause people to jaywalk or slip off the pavements. If drivers are not alert, or they're distracted by cellphones, texting, chatting or eating/drinking accidents can easily happen. Other problems like wind-blown debris, blocked roads, infrastructure damage, road closures, hazards like heavily-loaded trucks on icy roads, high winds, etc can reduce mobility and increase the frustration of drivers, leading to road rage, reckless and negligent driving. Our free consultation injury lawyers can assist you with first conducting a thorough independent investigation of the circumstances of your case and then evaluating it for the amount and nature of compensation that you're entitled to.

Tips for Drivers

As a driver, it is your duty to keep safety paramount when you drive in adverse weather conditions. Ensure that you remain in full control of your vehicle and adopting measures to ensure that you don't cause an accident when your vehicle slips on ice-bound roads. When you begin skidding, shift to neutral gear and temporarily let go of the steering and then slowly regain control of the vehicle. Don't over-use the brakes. Avoid driving after dark as much as possible and keep your lights on even during the day time. Although it's the holiday season and you're looking forward to party-hopping, make sure you don't drink and drive and never use the phone while you're at the wheel. A lot of serious motor vehicle accidents happen on weekends, when people are more relaxed, less vigilant and perhaps have had a few drinks.

Following these hints would certainly ensure that you don't cause accidents, but if you're the victim of someone who fails to take due care, our serious injury lawyers can establish the fault and help you to receive compensation.

Compensation for Accident Victims

As with other types of motor vehicle accidents, our car accident lawyers can begin working on your case immediately. This is because personal injury cases are subject to a strict statute of limitations framework and unless the claim is made within the stipulated time, it could be dismissed. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can ensure that the paperwork meets filing deadlines. The at-fault party's insurers are liable to pay compensation, and Compensation claims generally include:

• Medical expenses like hospitalization, treatments and medication
• Rehabilitation
• Care-giver expenses
• Loss of income/wages
• Pain and suffering
• Damage to property in certain cases

In case of death, the close family members of the victim are entitled to claim compensation for funeral expenses, cost of burial/cremation, medical expenses relating to the accident incurred prior to the death of the victim, pain and suffering, loss of guidance, care and companionship, lost wages/income etc.

How We Can Assist

When accidents take place, regardless of how serious they are, there is chaos, confusion and anxiety experienced by all those involved. Victims of injury are in pain and in need of immediate medical attention. If deaths occur, there would be shock and grief. Under these circumstances, victims, their friends and families find themselves in a vulnerable state. They may unwittingly make statements, provide access to medical or confidential data, sign documents etc presented by the at-fault party's insurers or legal representatives without realizing that such actions could compromise the validity of their claims for compensation. Since insurers usually make the compensation pay-outs, their claims adjusters may attempt to reduce the extent of injuries, delay, deny or dismiss the charges as invalid. Our 24x7 injury lawyers can represent you in all communications with the opposite party and at trial if required.

If you, your family or a friend has been injured in an accident, please feel free to speak to one of our injury lawyers for a free consultation about how we are able to assist in making a personal injury claim. We consult in all cities across Ontario with a no win no fee guarantee. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims secure millions of dollars in personal injury cases. Call us Toll Free On our 24/7 Injury Hotline: 1 - 844 495 7333 or Text a Personal Injury ‎Lawyer 24/7 and get instant help.TM (416 931 5015)