Can You Get Compensated for Weather-Related Driveway Injuries?
The weather across the country can be unpredictable, especially in states that experience all four seasons. From scorching sun to torrential rain and then endless snow, our homes bear the brunt of an always mercurial mother nature, and must do everything in our power to adapt.
One of the ways in which the weather can impact our homes is the effect of inclement weather on our driveways, which can show signs of wear and tear way before they are supposed to, as well as become veritable hazard areas when it comes to pedestrians and neighbors alike.
Many driveways slope down to the main road, and as such, may send water, sleet, ice sheets and other debris into the streets, creating an opportunity for injury for anyone that is walking by. These weather elements often lead to slips and falls, broken bones, internal injuries and even concussions for individuals who may be in close to proximity to their neighbor’s or acquaintance’s driveway. In addition, drivers who don’t pay attention during inclement weather may find themselves knocking over children or the elderly.
It is important to note that weather conditions notwithstanding, all homeowners owe others a duty of care to act in a reasonable and intentional manner whenever they navigate around their driveway in order to ensure no-one suffers injuries. It is estimated that accidents leading to injuries are 90 percent caused by human action or inaction, invalidating the excuse that accidents just happen out of the blue.
Getting injured due to weather conditions affecting a driveway may represent a breach in duty of care, and these injuries can be grounds for compensation if they can be quantified from a damages perspective. Driveway injury lawsuits may seem simple and tempt injured parties to go it alone, but the reality is that they are complex when it comes to apportioning liability, demonstrating negligence as well as calculating damages you may be entitled to.
To this end, it is important to work with an experienced driveway injuries attorney to have a full appreciation of your rights for justice and compensation, and we’re here to help with that – read on to find out more.
Are you looking for the best driveway injuries attorney? Please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. The experienced driveway injury lawyers at McCready Law possess experience spanning over 90 years where we’ve helped tens of thousands of injured Americans from all walks of life after getting injured due to the negligent actions of others or large corporations.
Over the decades, we’ve recovered close to $300 million for our clients, with a lot of these being court summary judgements; we are not afraid to litigate as we understand that some catastrophically injured clients may require long-term care, suffer permanent disability, may not be able to return to work for many months, and deserve maximum compensation, which can only be had via litigation.
By contrast, most law firms simply engage the insurance company in negotiations which end in the injured party receiving a paltry payout. We run a bilingual firm (hablamos Español), and we have nationwide reach thanks to our vast and trusted network of countrywide referral attorneys and law firms. We take on all cases on contingency fee basis, and what this means is that there are ZERO UPFRONT FEES for the duration of the processing of your claim, as we only levy our fees at the end of the suit, and only if we’ve recovered compensation on your behalf.
If you were injured beside someone else’s driveway due to snow, sleet, rainwater or even cracks brought on by extreme temperature fluctuations, please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation – our intake team is standing by.
How and Why Weather-Related Driveway Injuries Occur
Here are some weather conditions that may contribute to driveway injuries:
Rain
Rain is prevalent in just about every state and when it falls on surfaces, they can become very slippery, particularly if there is a buildup of debris or oil. Water collecting onto a driveway path can cause a phenomenon called hydroplaning, where shoes lose traction, thereby leading to slips and falls. In addition, heavy and ongoing rain may impair visibility which may make it harder for others to see any debris, pedestrians and even potholes
Snow
For states that experience all four seasons, snow can transform a driveway into an injury-prone area due to a number of factors such as obscured hazards like uneven surfaces and cracks which may lead to trips or slips and falls. In addition, an accumulation of snow may create unstable surfaces underneath which may give way underfoot. Snow has the propensity to pile up, making it icy and hard to walk safely on which may then end in people falling as they attempt navigating the area adjacent to your driveway
Ice
This is one of the most prominent causes of driveway injuries due to the fact that it is patently invisible until it is too late. In particular, black ice which tends to form due to the rapid freezing of moisture as temperature drops creates a slick surface that is often invisible to the naked eye, making it more likely for pedestrians to slip and fall.
Best Driveway Injuries Attorneys – Call Us NOW!
Liability for weather-related driveway injuries is a complex affair, and in some cases, negligence may be shared by the victim. However, homeowners are generally required to maintain their driveways and ensure they are safe for use, and this often means salting icy surfaces, removing snow on a regular basis, power washing their driveways as well as fixing any structural issues such as cracks and potholes in a timely manner.
In addition, they are required to put up waring signs prior to mitigating these risks so as to help would-be injury victims avoid these trouble spots for their own safety. Failure to act in this manner may make them liable for your injuries depending on their circumstances. Confused and want more clarity on whether you have a case as well as its value? Please give us a call NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. Remember, the call is 100% FREE, and there is no legal obligation. Thanks for choosing us, and we look forward to helping you.