California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
3 Common Winter Accidents and What to do if You are Injured
During the winter, between the bad weather and the business of the holidays, accidents often occur that result in personal injuries. If the accident was caused by another person’s negligence or intentional careless act, then you can receive financial compensation for your injuries by bringing a Los Angeles personal injury claim against the person or party responsible. If you are injured in a winter accident it is important to know what to do.
Below are three common winter accidents and what to do if it happens to you:
- Slip and fall Accidents: With the wet, rainy, icy (and in some places, even snowy) conditions the winter brings, slip and fall accidents can and do occur. If you slip and fall on another person’s property, they may be responsible for your injuries because of premise liability. What this means is that a person has the responsibility to keep their property safe for others and if another person is hurt because of their negligence, they can be held liable.
For example, if you slip and fall and sustain an injury while walking into a grocery store because they did not clean up water pooled on the floor, they may be liable for your injuries. You will need to prove that they either created the hazard that caused your fall or that they knew or should have known about it and did not fix the problem—this can be tricky and depends on the facts, so if you are injured in a slip and fall accident it is important to contact an experienced Los Angeles slip and fall injury attorney right away.
- Car Accidents: Southern California roads are known to be busy, but at the holiday time, they only get busier. If you add rainy weather and slick conditions to the already crowded streets, accidents are bound to happen.
If you are involved in a car accident due to the fault of another, that caused you or someone you love injuries, you can receive compensation for those injuries. Whether the other driver was speeding in rainy conditions, driving while intoxicated, or even simply not paying attention, they will be responsible for your injuries if they were negligent. After a car accident it is important to seek medical attention, contact the police to get a police report, get the other driver’s license and insurance information, and, if possible to do so safely, get pictures of the crash. All this information will be helpful in bringing a personal injury claim.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Similar to car accidents, the busy streets and bad weather in the winter can result in more pedestrian accidents. Additionally, because it gets darker earlier in the evening, visibility can decrease, and pedestrians are more difficult for drivers to see.
To avoid a pedestrian accident, make sure to wear bright or reflective colors at night. Use marked cross walks at all times, and always pay attention when crossing the road, even if you have the right of way. If you are involved in a pedestrian accident with a car, motorcycle, cyclist or other vehicle, gather as much information as possible. As was mentioned previously, insurance information of the driver at fault, pictures, and police reports are very important. Contact a skilled pedestrian personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
At Walch Law, our experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are ready to help you get compensation for any type of winter injury you suffer—whether it’s a slip and fall, car accident, pedestrian accident, or any other type of accident, we will work to help you get the financial recovery you deserve. To find out if you have a personal injury claim because you were injured in an accident, call our office at 866-465-8792 to set up a FREE case consultation!