Introduction
Spring has officially arrived in Western New York. The snow has melted, the air is getting warmer, and the days are longer. But during this time of the year, folks may put their guard down, and driving on the roads of Western New York can still present hazards to our fellow motorists. And slip and fall hazards still exist and can cause you to have a serious injury.
Winter may have ended, but it’s not yet summer. Our weather still can be messy and inconsistent, with rapidly changing temperatures, lots of rain and unexpected snowfall.
Even if unexpected, sidewalks, parking lots, roads and entrances still are dangerous to walk and drive on, so be careful.
Why This Season Creates Injury Risks in Buffalo
Our weather in Buffalo during this time of the year is ever-changing — it can be very nice one minute, and before you know it, the temperature is dropping and it can snow heavily for a few hours.
One of the biggest side effects with these weather changes is the melting/refreezing, freeze-thaw cycle. As the snow melts, puddles form, and parking lots, sidewalks and roads become wet. Once the temperature drops, it creates icy surfaces. This creates hazards for walking and driving. These conditions result in greater risks for slipping and falling and for presenting dangerous conditions while driving as well.
Despite the spring-like weather becoming nicer, you still have to stay alert to avoid the risk of getting hurt.
Common Spring Injury Situations
There are many scenarios that could happen. For example:
- You’re driving home from work, and the car behind you is following too closely. It cannot stop because of an icy roadway or it may even hit a pothole. They rear-end your car, totaling your vehicle and causing you to have whiplash, a concussion, and other injuries.
- You’re walking into the grocery store, and the entrance is completely covered in ice. Although you’re trying your best, you slip and fall, breaking your ankle and have to have surgery.
- You park your car in that shopping center’s parking lot. You’re walking to the entrance and slip on an icy walkway that seemed to be clear. You land on your wrist, fracturing it, and require surgery.
These situations happen every day, and they can happen to anyone. Our ever-changing weather doesn’t make it easier.
Where These Accidents Often Happen
Accidents can happen anywhere, but a majority of them are in common settings like office parks, parking lots, sidewalks, neighborhood streets, gas stations, and business properties.
A large majority of injuries occur less than 10 miles from the victim’s home.
Be aware of your surroundings and ensure that you’re alert when you’re driving and walking.
What Someone Should Do After Getting Hurt
What if you get in an accident and don’t know what to do? Here are the basic To-Do’s to help you:
Seek Medical Attention: Put your health first and get checked by a medical professional to make sure that there are no emergent injuries.
Take Photos of the Scene: Capture every part of the accident including the road condition, the street name/intersection, and the cars involved. Take pictures of everything!
Reporting the Incident: Contact law enforcement and report the accident. If the response is delayed, document everything yourself to have on hand. If you’re hurt on someone else’s property, report the accident immediately to the store manager or property owner.
State only the facts, don’t guess or exaggerate on your report.
Identify Witnesses: If there was anyone nearby or who saw the accident, get their contact information. They can make a big difference if need be.
Preserving Shoes and Clothing: Don’t throw away any clothing (including accessories and shoes) that you wore the day of the accident; it’s evidence!
Writing Down Information: Write down what the weather and road conditions looked like during the time of the accident and any other relevant information.
When Legal Responsibility May Become an Issue
Legal responsibilities depend on facts, notice of the condition, its location, maintenance responsibilities, and documentation of the incident and condition.
For instance, a property owner in New York must take reasonable care to identify unsafe conditions, correct them within a reasonable time, and protect visitors from foreseeable harm. If not, then they can be responsible for any injuries that could happen on their property.
Claims involving cities, villages, and towns – often called municipalities – are more complicated. They may involve special rules or deadlines depending on the area, which is why contacting an attorney as soon as possible is so important.
Evidence and documentation are the most important things you can preserve. Identify as much evidence as you can, and document even the tiniest detail, because your claim depends on that information.
Conclusion
Buffalo is busy city filled with cars, rain, college students, and unpredictable snow (even when you believe the storms have ended). Accidents are bound to happen, but don’t let that stop you from getting the help you need.
If you’ve been in an accident or injured and don’t know what to do, call The Coppola Firm. We can help you with any questions about what happened or whether you may have a claim.
Call us at 716-839-9700 or email info@coppolalegal.com for a free consultation or for information.
