Even though the first day of spring is approaching, everyone in Connecticut should realize that the cold weather is not over. Snow, ice, sleet, and other wintery conditions can always make a comeback and you should be aware of the risks winter weather can bring. Accidents and injuries occurring in poor weather conditions can be tricky, as you cannot hold the weather financially responsible for your medical bills and other losses. However, you can hold individuals who act negligently in adverse weather conditions liable and an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney can help you make this distinction.

Traffic Accidents

Winter weather and drivers are never a friendly mix. However, if someone must drive their vehicles in snow or ice, they are expected to take certain precautions. Drivers are always expected to drive in a reasonably safe manner, and what is considered to be “reasonably safe” will change depending on the circumstances. For example, you would not drive a speed limit of 55 miles per hour if there was bumper-to-bumper traffic. In those traffic conditions, you have to slow down and adjust your safe driving behaviors. The same goes for winter weather conditions.

Drivers are expected to slow down when necessary due to winter weather, leave extra room for stopping, and similar acts of caution. If a driver is going too fast on an icy road and causes an accident, they can be found liable even if they were within the posted speed limit. If you are injured in a winter weather accident, an attorney can help determine whether another driver acted negligently and can be held responsible for your losses.

Slip and Falls

Property and business owners are required to keep their premises hazard-free whenever possible – or to warn of hazards – to keep visitors from harm. For example, if something spills on the floor of a store, the store is expected to clean it up as soon as possible to prevent slip and fall accidents. Snow and ice present numerous hazards both outside and inside a store and many people can slip and fall and suffer serious injuries.

Connecticut has specific laws regarding snow and ice removal, so these cases differ from normal slip and fall cases. Under the “ongoing storm doctrine,” business and property owners are not expected to continually clear ice or snow during a storm but instead, have a reasonable amount of time after the end of the storm to do so. However, some owners still fail to make their premises safe after a storm, so claims arising from this type of slip and fall do occur and you should speak with an attorney if you have been injured.

Contact a Stamford Personal Injury Lawyer for More Information

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Piazza, Simmons & Grant understand how to handle winter weather injury cases under Connecticut law. We can evaluate your rights, so please call 203-348-2465 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you.
CONNECTICUT PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS


This winter, the East Coast was devastated by an intense storm aptly named the “Bomb Cyclone.” The name would be almost comical if it hadn’t caused so much critical damage. This event described a weekend of intense weather that included strong winds, temperatures that dropped into the single digits, and a half foot of snow accumulating in some areas. JFK nearly shut down, major roads were too treacherous to drive on, and schools closed for multiple days in a row. Several news sources were reporting that the aftermath of the storm might actually be worse than the storm itself. The impact of this natural disaster was felt by citizens along the East Coast and in some cases, resulted in serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries were a result of exposure to freezing temperatures, icy sidewalks, and dangerous road conditions.

Cold Temperatures

When the temperature drops to single digits or colder, systems begin to fail. The elderly and young people are most vulnerable to the cold. Life-threatening conditions such as phenomena and frostbite are common once temperatures plummet. In some older buildings, the furnaces will fail in especially cold weather and this can present an incredibly dangerous situation.

Slip and Falls

One of the most perilous dangers during a snow and ice storm is the increased likelihood of a slip and fall accident. Even when the sidewalks have been cleared, there is often a layer of slick ice remaining. It’s easy to forget that the walkways are slippery when it looked as if the snow has been shoveled away. Businesses may also fail to adequately clear their parking lots and walkways. Although people oftentimes overlook such accidents as a silly inconvenience, slip and falls are one of the most dangerous types of accidents. They can result in broken bones, a concussion, or bruised spine.

Car Accidents

With more than a foot of snow on the ground and a layer of ice underneath that, to say the roads in the New York City and Connecticut were in poor condition is a drastic understatement. Even when transportation departments put salt down on the roads to mitigate the snow and ice, the freezing temperatures keep it from melting. Driving in adverse conditions means a higher probability of sliding off the road or colliding with another vehicle. It’s important to take extra care in this weather; drive at a slower speed and give the car in front of you plenty of room to stop. However, other drivers may not be so careful and may cause serious accidents and injuries due to negligent driving in bad winter weather.

Contact the Law Offices of Piazza, Simmons & Grant, LLC Today

If you or someone you know in the Stamford, CT area incurred injury as a result of the Bomb Cyclone or any other winter storm, you might be wondering if there is a way to collect compensation for your losses. Medical bills, lost wages due to missing time at work, and expensive medications can cause financial stress. The attorneys at Piazza, Simmons & Grant have extensive experience with personal injury claims. We will work tirelessly on your behalf to collect just compensation for you. Call us today at 203-348-2465 to set up an appointment for your initial consultation or contact us online. We are here and ready to help.

At the Law Offices of Piazza, Simmons & Grant LLC our Connecticut personal injury lawyers are recognized for their success. Our achievements have included seven figure settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of our clients who have faced serious personal injury and other legal concerns. Our emphasis has always been helping our clients receive the best possible results. This emphasis has led to a reputation for excellence in Connecticut and across the nation.

Our Stamford attorneys serve clients in different areas of the law, including personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and family law. We tailor our approach to fit the unique needs of each of our clients. If a case requires litigation, we will represent our clients’ rights and interests tenaciously. We also use mediation techniques to help our clients resolve their problems in a less contentious manner.

The legal team at our Connecticut law firm has been listed in Super Lawyers in 2012 in the area of Divorce and The Best Lawyers in America from 1995-present for Family law, as well as being AV-rated under Martindale Hubbell’s peer rating system. Our founding attorney, Anthony Piazza, is also listed in the Connecticut Area’s Best Lawyers and as one of the top 50 Super Lawyers in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine.

CONTACT:
112 Prospect St #100a
Stamford, CT 06901
Phone: 203-504-5840
Fax: 203-964-9509
Business Email: tony@anthonypiazza.com













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