Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Warn of Increased Accident Risk during Winter Storms

Winter weather is expected to impact the Philadelphia area this week.  Snow, sleet, and ice may make it difficult and dangerous to get around.  Philadelphia winter storms are often followed by a brief thawing and then refreezing which creates icy roads, sidewalks, and parking lots if they are not properly treated.  Black ice, which forms when wet surfaces freeze, is particularly hazardous to pedestrians and drivers because surfaces appear to be merely wet, but are actually a treacherous sheet of ice.  People who are injured in weather related accidents on icy surfaces may be entitled to collect compensation for their injuries if a slip and fall accident or a car accident occurred because of someone else’s negligence.

Car Accidents

As evidenced by the recent Philadelphia car accident fatalities on icy roads, winter weather creates extremely dangerous driving conditions.   Multi-vehicle pile-ups on the Blue Route (I 476) and the Schuylkill Expressway left three people dead during a January 2015 ice-storm when a flash freeze turned roads in and around Philly into sheets of ice.  More than 60 cars were involved in the chain reaction wreck on the Schuylkill, and over 30 injuries have been reported from that crash alone.  Numerous accidents were reported throughout the Philadelphia area during the storm, and several area bridges were closed as a precaution.

With more winter weather expected to impact our region, we remind drivers to avoid travelling in icy conditions whenever possible.  If you must venture out in your car, drive slowly, carefully, and heed all emergency warnings.  Drivers must be extra vigilant during winter storms, and avoid all distractions, such as texting and talking on the phone while driving in the snow.  Victims who are injured in car accidents that occur on icy roads may be entitled to collect compensation for their injuries from a liable driver.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners and managers of commercial properties including stores, malls, places of business, hotels, apartment buildings, and condominiums are required to maintain reasonably safe conditions to reduce the risk of accidental injury to visitors on their property.  This includes removing snow and ice hazards from walkways, sidewalks, and parking lots by shoveling, plowing, salting, or sanding.  If a slip and fall accident happens due to hazardous conditions that could have been foreseen and prevented, a property owner or manager may be liable for any injuries sustained as a result of their negligence.

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a slip and fall or car accident that occurred in the snow or ice, you will need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer with the knowledge and ability to successfully pursue your claim.  Establishing liability, particularly in multi-vehicle accidents, requires fine-tuned skills and attention to detail.  The highly regarded personal injury lawyers in Philadelphia at Galfand Berger, LLP have been successfully representing injured people in the Philadelphia area since 1947.  We fight to ensure that our clients obtain the maximum amount of compensation that they deserve, and that those responsible for causing injuries are held accountable.  Contact us online or call 1-800-222-8792 and speak to a lawyer for free who will answer your questions and can offer advice.